Property developer Hongkong Land and urban developer China Merchants Shekou Holdings (CMSK) have opened their JV project Landmark Riverside Park, Chongqing’s first cultural tourism and retail complex.

In the central business area of Danzishi, between the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, the commercial and lifestyle development offers leisure and entertainment activities as well as shopping and dining.

The opening ceremony was attended by Hongkong Land CEO Robert Wong and China Merchants Group VP Sun Chengming as well as local dignitaries.

Wong told guests that Landmark Riverside Park embodied the group’s vision of developing quality projects that strengthen and enhance the urban fabric of major cities across Asia.

“We anticipate that Landmark Riverside Park will be a cultural tourism attraction,” said Sun. “It will also serve as a springboard for enhanced urban planning in Chongqing.”

With a gross floor area of 120,000 sqm, the park has such attractions as a Madame Tussauds waxworks museum and Sea Life, the world’s biggest aquarium brand. There is also the Chongqing cultural and creative hub Maker Space, a cultural experience area.

The development involved the rehabilitation of 1km of marble stone streets as well as the renovation of the old French navy barracks.

Founded in 1889, Hongkong Land owns and manages almost 800,000 sqm of prime office and luxury retail property in key Asian cities, principally Hong Kong and Singapore. It is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

China Merchants Shekou Holdings is a flagship company engaged in urban development under the century-old China Merchants Group (CMG).