Living in the lap of luxury
The luxury malls of Beijing are enticing and warm, with carpets so plush they yield underfoot and shop assistants as exquisite as the items on sale. Some shops do not display prices at all, others display merchandise behind locked glass doors, and assistants wear gloves when presenting goods to potential buyers.
The hushed atmosphere and glossy interiors of Shin Kong Place, the Yintai Center and the Peninsula Arcade are a world away from the fast food and frenetic activity of the capital's mass-market malls.
The likes of Chanel, Hermes and Prada woo consumers with craftsmanship, exclusivity and indulgence. But on a February weekend, during one of China's busiest shopping periods of the year, Beijing's beautiful high-end stores appear bereft of customers.
