The Walmart store on Xiangmei Road North in Xiangmihu Subdistrict will be demolished to make room for a future commercial complex that will include retail areas, offices, and hotels, alongside urban infrastructure and public amenities, according to Futian District’s housing and construction authority. 

The site was originally home to China’s first Sam’s Club, established in 1996 when Walmart Inc. first entered China. At the end of 2005, Sam’s Club was relocated to the nearby SCPG Center on Nonglin Road, and the site was converted into a Walmart store in 2006.

A draft urban renewal plan for the site has triggered a wave of nostalgia among local residents. For many residents, it was one of the city's earliest large-format membership retail stores and a fixture of daily life during Shenzhen's rapid urban growth.

Shoppers stroll through the Walmart store on Xiangmei Road North. Photo from WeChat account "圳之窗"

Residents shared on Chinese social media their memories of shopping at the store over the past three decades. Some users also expressed surprise, noting that the supermarket recently underwent interior renovations and expanded sales of Walmart's private-label fresh food products.

Questions about when demolition might begin and what would ultimately replace the existing building remain unanswered.

In a statement accompanying the proposal, Shenzhen housing authorities said the Xiangmihu project is expected to serve as a model for commercial redevelopment in Futian's core urban area.

The draft plan is open for public consultation through June 10. Feedback can be submitted via email to js@szft.gov.cn or by calling (0755) 8358-9215. Authorities have not announced a timetable for demolition or construction.