WF Central, a premium lifestyle retail destination in Beijing, will have a soft opening on November 28, developer Hongkong Land has announced.
It will offer 150,000sqm of retail, fine dining and hospitality in Wangfujing, in the centre of Dongcheng district.
“WF Central has been envisaged as a Beijing landmark of quality living by engaging, connecting and building community through a considered curation of art and cultural activity and experiential lifestyle,” says Hongkong Land executive director Raymond Chow.
It aims to set a benchmark for retail and lifestyle through five core categories: luxury, fashion, gastronomy, lifestyle and wellness, and art and culture.
More than 100 tenants will be introduced initially, with international brands, many of which are making their first appearance in China.
Luxury & Fashion
Luxury brands for the soft launch include Chopard, Jimmy Choo, Longchamp, Moschino, Salvatore Ferragamo and Tory Burch, along with the first Yves Salomon fur boutique in China. These will be followed by further openings by such brands as Chaumet, Fendi, Gucci, IWC, Loewe, Moynat, Prada, Saint Laurent, Tod’s and Vacheron Constantin, together with Beijing’s first R Sanderson footwear store.
Also set to make their Beijing debut are Victoria’s Secret with a three-level flagship, Danish jewellery brand Pandora, British street fashion brand Superdry and jeweller Links of London.
Gastronomy
WF Central will offer more than 23 culinary concepts including the Chinese cuisine dining experience of Howard’s Gourmet, chef Alan Wong’s Californian-styled Japanese restaurant Hatsune, and the Beijing debuts of Michelin-starred yakiniku restaurant Kanpai Classic, Canton restaurant Jade Garden, and Hong Kong brand Cafe Landmark, which will overlook the centre’s atrium.
Family casual-dining experiences will include the first Beijing outlet for The Cheesecake Factory, bakery/coffee house/wine market concept Baker and Spice, Tomacado and its comfort food, The Rug Cafe, organic-food cafe Tribe, Tiago with Italian dining, Früt Actually, Garrett Popcorn and Seesaw Coffee which offers syphon and hand-press brewing options.
Lifestyle & Wellness
Lifestyle and wellness offerings include the first China flagship store for Under Armour, Yan Ji You cafe/bookshop; Plurecil with Japanese beauty treatments, and the China debut of Paris-based Laboratories Filorga’s anti-aging experience centre.
Opening next month is Hong Kong haircare salon Hair Corner, while a Pure Yoga centre will open next year.
Art & Culture
WF Central incorporates a reconstructed courtyard house, the former residence of Princes Pu Lun and Pu Dong, cousins of the last Qing emperor Pu Yi.
On the west side of the complex is The Green, an outdoor recreational space.
WF Central says its aims to engage, connect and build community through curating art, cultural and experiential events, including exhibitions and installations.
Hospitality
Included in the development is the 74-room Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing, which will
open next year. On the top two floors, the hotel will feature two restaurants and a bar.
