We're Waiting On You Guoson: Vacant Dongzhimen Mall Still Vacant

Beijing certainly has no shortage of ghostly malls and office buildings, but the absence of life in the Guoson Center right next to the bustling Dongzhimen subway station has always been puzzling. Its brothers Raffles and Ginza across the street are overachievers, comparatively, but to get there from the airport express, you have to cross through an underpass that reeks of boiled corn. There are worse things in life, but, really, Guoson, why don't you get on it already?

Turns out a property developer, the Guangyao Dongfang Group, has been looking into acquiring the building and turning it into something its big siblings could be proud of. But wait — seems like no one can decide who currently has the rights to the vacant, what would have been a whopping 600,000 square-meter mall (and who would want to admit that they did? That thing has been lacking action for about seven years, and each year, a company has apparently tried to purchase it with no luck).

An equity disagreement between stakeholders of Chengjian Donghua Company, which owns Guoson Center's land, has put off any new developments, despite rumors that an investor was going to buy the place for RMB 12 billion, according to The Economic Observer. So, once again, don't hold your breath. Looks like we're going to have to continue to venture southward to get our fast fashion fixes and Japanese fast food for awhile longer.

Meanwhile, the Guoson Center has been racking up about RMB 15 million in utility costs since being closed. Remember that next time you forget to shut off your lights.