Annual Revenue Surpasses 6.5 Billion RMB! What Makes Meilin Tiandi So Profitable?

In Guangzhou’s fiercely competitive retail scene, Meilin Tiandi stands out as the only shopping complex that successfully brings together two global heavyweights—Sam’s Club and IKEA—under one roof.This powerhouse combination leaves visitors amazed and drives truly impressive results: last year’s sales exceeded 5.8 billion RMB, with foot traffic surpassing 42.5 million visits—a 21% year-over-year increase—outperforming most malls in Guangzhou.Remember, Guangzhou’s commercial landscape is packed with legendary players—from Tianhe City and Taikoo Hui to Grandview Mall. Yet Meilin Tiandi not only outshines strong rivals like Parc Central, Wanling Hui, and Panyu Tianhe City, but also ranks among Guangzhou’s Top 8 most popular shopping centers, second only to the iconic Fashion Tianhe Mall. Such achievements are truly remarkable.Adding to its accolades, Meilin Tiandi earned a spot in the “2025 Top 50 Outstanding Shopping Centers” list released by the influential Viewpoint Index.You might wonder: Who exactly is Meilin Tiandi?

How has it managed to secure a solid foothold amid Guangzhou’s retail titans? And where might it still need improvement?Family-Centric Strategy with Differentiated Positioning.Meilin Tiandi is a flagship commercial project of Meilin Group and has been operating for six years. As China’s only super complex that unites Sam’s Club and IKEA, it is positioned as a “regional all-ages lifestyle experience center.” Its core audience focuses on local families and white-collar workers within a 3-kilometer radius, while also attracting trendy young shoppers from neighboring Tianhe and Huangpu districts.Steady Growth Through Iterative Upgrades.Meilin Tiandi’s success didn’t happen overnight. Before the 2019 redevelopment, the area’s retail layout was fragmented. Through comprehensive planning and reconstruction, Meilin Group transformed it into a modern, standardized shopping complex.Phase One (August 2019):IKEA opened as the anchor tenant, joined by over 120 brands spanning lifestyle retail, home furnishings, dining, digital trends, and family entertainment, establishing a strong family-consumption base.Phase Two (July 2021):Introduced Sam’s Club and Jinyi IMAX Dual-Screen Cinema, expanding commercial space from 80,000 to 200,000 square meters and increasing parking capacity from 1,000 to 3,000 spaces, further enhancing convenience and functionality.2023 Expansion:The project welcomed 14 new energy vehicle (NEV) brands, becoming Guangzhou’s key hub for NEV sales. Last year, annual NEV sales exceeded 1.8 billion RMB, ranking first among all Guangzhou shopping complexes.

Dual Arterial Roads + Direct Metro Access: Unlocking the Traffic Code.In retail, accessibility is everything, and Meilin Tiandi has nailed this traffic formula to perfection.Prime Location: It sits right beside Huangpu Avenue East and Zhongshan Avenue, two major city arteries. Whether families are driving in from Huangpu or visitors are coming via expressways from Panyu, everyone can reach the entrances smoothly.Metro Convenience: As a transit-oriented development, the mall connects directly to Metro Line 5 Sanxi Station, with dozens of BRT bus routes interwoven around it—public transit is effortless.What’s more, Meilin Tiandi offers five parking zones (P1–P5) with more than 2,500 spaces and provides members two hours of free parking daily. Guests simply scan to register for membership upon arrival and can exit within 20 minutes of leaving for complimentary parking.A special perk: residents of the upscale Pengrui No. 1 apartments across Huangpu Avenue East can drive just 200 meters from their underground garage directly into Meilin Tiandi’s parking lot.Thanks to this “metro + self-drive” dual-access advantage and the mall’s strong pull within a 3-kilometer community radius, Meilin Tiandi enjoys a stable, local customer base without relying on distant travelers.Sam’s Club + IKEA: Twin Power Brands Driving Growth.This steady, close-to-home audience forms the backbone that attracts top-tier tenants and keeps the mall buzzing. In the first half of the year, sales growth outpaced foot traffic, proving that “location dividends” are paying off.

Smart Layout: East Mega-Box + West Nightlife District.Meilin Tiandi’s zoned planning creates a seamless loop via skybridges:East Wing (Phase I): Focused on daily shopping and trend retailJewelry Hub: Flagship jewelers like Chow Tai Fook and Luk Fook cluster here, forming a highly recognizable jewelry district.Youth Culture & Lifestyle: Trendy brands such as TOP TOY and JIUMU Lifestyle plus value-driven “flash sale” stores like HotMax capture young shoppers.EV Showrooms: NIO, Xiaomi, Huawei and 12 more NEV brands are woven throughout, letting visitors browse cars between dining and shopping—a perfect blend of necessity and style.West Wing (Phase II): Dedicated to night economy and immersive experiences.Chic cafés, art bars, and the IMAX Jinyi Cinema (frequently hosting celebrity premieres) keep evenings lively.Wellness & Beauty: WILLS Fitness and Japanese-style skincare studios offer instant recharge.

Dining Powerhouse: Over 100 restaurants span Western, Japanese, Cantonese, and Sichuan cuisines. Highlights include Ding Tai Chu’s Southeast Asian flavors, Shui Huo Men’s spicy hotpot, Tao Wa’s viral frog pot, and Wen Tong Tea Room’s Hong Kong–style dim sum—ideal for everything from family banquets to casual solo meals.Innovative Experiences & Social BuzzIn August last year, Meilin Tiandi launched the “NBA HOOP PARK” basketball arena, hosting tournaments and watch parties.During the 2025 NBA 3X South Region event, a single game drew over 5,000 on-site spectators and racked up 172 million online impressions.This clear business mix, differentiated functions, and abundant consumer experiences—combined with unbeatable transport access—keep Meilin Tiandi a constant hot topic on social media, where users frequently share its vibrant scenes.Many locals agree that this prosperity is powered by Sam’s Club and IKEA—the mall’s shining twin stars:Sam’s Club, Walmart’s premium membership retailer, occupies 20,000+ sqm, drawing over 3.5 million visitors annually.IKEA, the world’s largest home furnishings brand, showcases around 9,000 products and attracts over 4.5 million visits each year.

Afternoon Rush: Crowds, Hot Dining Spots, and Record-Breaking Sales.Around 4:00 p.m. on a weekday, our editor visited Sam’s Club and found packed entrances and exits. The fresh-food area was teeming with shoppers; tasting stations were surrounded by eager customers, and checkout lines stretched long.Beyond the star power of Sam’s Club and IKEA, 100+ trendy restaurants are fueling the buzz and pulling in younger crowds. Popular hot spots such as Song Hotpot, Broken BBQ, Xiang La La, Chef Fei, and Moda Canteen had long queues well before dinner time.This sustained popularity and strong consumer energy have directly translated into standout performance:First half of 2025 sales: ¥3.133 billion (≈USD 430 million).Foot traffic: 22.64 million visits.Annual projections for 2025 are impressive: over ¥6.5 billion in sales (excluding EV sales) and up to 48 million visitors.Family-Friendly Touches—But a Few Rough Edges.While maintaining high traffic, Meilin Tiandi clearly invests in thoughtful service:Parent lounge outside the kids’ play zone with sofas and charging outlets solves the “tired parent + dead phone” problem, earning rave reviews from moms.Nursing rooms include privacy curtains and baby-changing stations for infants.

Child-height sinks in every restroom suit ages 3–6, avoiding the “can’t reach the faucet” dilemma.The mall’s magnetic appeal extends to special events and fan gatherings.During anniversaries and holidays, crowds swell.Celebrity fan events frequently choose this venue:Cai Xukun’s birthday celebration drew huge fan traffic to the giant LED screen.Li Yuchun’s 20th debut anniversary featured a dedicated fan-support display.However, shoppers have noted pain points:Parking Costs: ¥16/hour after free time, with a daily cap higher than nearby malls—a hidden burden for families or dinner groups who drive and stay long.Restroom Cleanliness: Some visitors report noticeable odors and delayed cleaning on certain floors.East Guangzhou’s Retail Powerhouse—How Long Can It Reign?From the perspective of Guangzhou’s eastward expansion, Meilin Tiandi’s breakout is textbook:Sam’s + IKEA dual-IP strategy solved the “commercial desert” between Tianhe East and old Huangpu.East–West dual layout captures families, young trendsetters, and night-economy fans alike.Dual arterial roads + direct metro lock in tens of thousands of middle-class consumers from Financial City, Pazhou, and Huangpu Port CBD.In terms of traffic-grabbing ability, Meilin Tiandi is first-tier in East Guangzhou.

But like every fast-rising retail complex, it faces “growing pains” that affect repeat-visit intent.In Guangzhou’s fiercely competitive market, short-term hype from scarcity is easy;long-term success hinges on experience.If the first half was about “filling a market gap,”the second half will depend on fixing weaknesses to stay the East-side retail champion.After all, Guangzhou consumers’ pickiness rises in lockstep with their lifestyle expectations.New Brands & Future PlansNotably in 2025, Meilin Tiandi introduced popular eateries like Mumian BBQ and Erjie Xiao Huofu, plus experiential retailers such as Paike Photo Studio and New Oriental, and even the first B.Duck City Park in Guangzhou’s urban core—all boosting consumer stickiness.For the second half of the year, the project plans an extra 13,000 ㎡ of retail.If it can optimize parking fees, upgrade restroom maintenance, and add more youth-oriented trend brands, Meilin Tiandi could evolve from a regional powerhouse to a broader market leader.Will Meilin Tiandi keep the momentum rolling?Join the conversation and share your thoughts!