Supermarkets, Shopping Malls, and Real In-Store AI in Hangzhou
Go beyond the EXPO — real stores, real operations, real AI in one day. This curated CHINASHOP study tour brings international retail professionals directly into Hangzhou’s most representative retail innovation scenarios.
Route A Focus
How omni-channel supermarkets and lifestyle malls operate with real digital tools inside physical stores — from fresh food and fulfillment to membership systems, mall operations, and consumer experience design.
One route. Four retail signals in one day.
Explore the forefront of China’s retail and e-commerce landscape with a one-day study tour in Hangzhou. Designed for international retail professionals, Route A highlights concrete achievements of leading companies and physical retail formats, offering direct insight into operational logic, digital integration, and consumer experience design.
Overseas Visitors Service Desk
Participants gather at the CHINASHOP Central Lobby and depart together with English-speaking tour coordination.
From fresh retail to mall transformation to live commerce.
- Fresh food zones, prepared meals, digital membership systems, and fulfillment integration inside China’s leading supermarket format.
- Lifestyle and experience-driven mall operations where retail, dining, and digital interaction are increasingly connected.
- Store-level digital applications, seamless online-offline journeys, and the operational signals behind China’s fast retail iteration.
- A close look at China’s live-streaming commerce ecosystem through a leading platform that connects traffic, content, technology, and conversion.
The day, stop by stop
CHINASHOP Central Lobby, Overseas Visitors Service Desk
Participants gather at the designated overseas service desk inside the CHINASHOP venue before departing for the day’s curated visits.
- English-speaking coordination on site
- Small-group movement and guided transitions
- Convenient starting point for international attendees
Alibaba’s flagship new retail concept
- Freshippo, developed by Alibaba Group, is widely recognized as a leading example of digital transformation in Chinese supermarkets.
- Operates on an online-offline integration model: each store serves as a retail space, dining area, and fulfillment center.
- Fresh food + dining, including on-site seafood processing; customers can shop, dine, or order via app with delivery in as fast as 30 minutes.
- Uses data-driven product selection and pricing to optimize inventory and customer choice.
- Features efficient supply chain and fulfillment systems, reimagining store value in a digital, instant-retail context.
Lunch: self-arranged
Participants may arrange lunch individually, with Hema recommended as the most convenient option for observing prepared food, ready-to-eat consumption, and dine-in retail behavior in the same setting.
Pioneer of AI-powered shopping experiences
- Recognized as a “2025 Commercial Innovation Enterprise,” with projects named among Top 100 Most Popular Shopping Centers and benchmark urban landmark projects.
- Integrates digital membership, payment, and marketing systems for a seamless online-offline experience.
- Focuses on beauty, fashion, and lifestyle, leveraging data analytics to enhance operations and user experience.
- Demonstrates how traditional department-store and mall formats can transform with technology while staying competitive in China’s fast-evolving retail market.
China’s leading live-streaming e-commerce platform
- Hosts nearly 50 senior e-commerce broadcasters, with over 1,000 hours of live-streaming experience each.
- Operates 10+ live-stream accounts, reaching 50 million+ followers across Douyin and Taobao.
- Provides technical solutions for major institutions and national events, including the Olympics, Asian Games, and National Games.
- Showcases live commerce operations, influencer marketing, and large-scale event streaming, exemplifying China’s digital retail innovation.
West Lake
After the visits, participants will be escorted to West Lake, one of Hangzhou’s most iconic landmarks, where the route concludes.
- Scenic end point for the day
- Convenient for free evening exploration
- A memorable close to the CHINASHOP Route A experience
What international visitors can learn
- How omni-channel grocery stores create value beyond traditional supermarket operations.
- How physical retail formats integrate membership, payments, app behavior, and fulfillment into a unified experience.
- How shopping centers and department-led formats evolve through digital infrastructure and consumer-data capabilities.
- How live commerce fits into China’s broader retail ecosystem, linking content, traffic, and conversion.
Who this route is best for
- Retail executives evaluating China’s operational retail innovation.
- Supermarket and grocery operators interested in fresh food, fulfillment, and omni-channel execution.
- Mall, department store, and store operations teams looking for practical digital transformation references.
- E-commerce and innovation leaders who want to connect physical retail with digital retail ecosystems.
