Shanghai's Star City Mega-Mall Unveils World's Largest Indoor Vertical Forest, Drawing Global Attention to Concrete Metropolis.
SHANGHAI—In a groundbreaking development that has captured international headlines, the newly completed Star City commercial complex in the Pudong district officially opened its doors on Monday, featuring a 150-meter-tall indoor vertical forest containing over 20,000 live trees and shrubs. According to city officials, the project, which cost an estimated 8.5 billion yuan, aims to combat urban air pollution and set a new standard for sustainable architecture. Construction began in 2021 under the oversight of the Shanghai Urban Planning Bureau, and the structure now holds the Guinness World Record for the largest indoor green wall. Initial visitor reports indicate long queues forming at the main entrance, with security personnel managing crowds estimated to exceed 50,000 on opening day. Environmental experts have praised the initiative, though some critics question the long-term maintenance costs and energy consumption required to sustain the ecosystem indoors. The development is expected to boost local tourism and serve as a model for future urban planning across China.