The Star Mall in SIP’s Jinji Lake CBD has seen increasing popularity among young people since it was upgraded last summer to highlight the ACGN (animation, comic, game and novel) culture.

Over the past one year, the Star Mall gathered 30-plus animation culture brands, including one that is the first of its kind in the country, 14 that are the first of their kind in Jiangsu province, and eight that are the first of their kind in Suzhou.

March Monster, a brand under Chinese animation company Fanfan, opened a store at the mall last July, and THE GUNDAM BASE opened its SATELLITE store at the mall last year, with single-day sales of up to RMB300,000. Bandai, a Japanese toy maker, opened a store at the mall in March, selling assembled models of popular animations.

Concurrently, various events such as animation-themed fairs and fan meetings are frequently held, attracting many young people.

Moreover, the Star Mall has joined hands with Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) to set up a practice base at the mall to help the school’s students improve their practical ability and spirit of innovation.

June 16, 2025