SM Mall of Asia, Shopping center in Pasay, Philippines
SM Mall of Asia is a large shopping center in Pasay on a former waterfront site facing Manila Bay, bringing together more than a thousand shops and restaurants under one sprawling roof. Ten floors of retail, cinemas, a convention center and leisure areas form a complex where it is easy to spend several hours.
The site was developed from 2003 onwards, and the first shops welcomed customers on May 21, 2006, when SM Prime Holdings opened the complex as part of its expansion plans. Since then, several sections have been extended, particularly in 2012, to add space for more stores and a larger cinema area.
Inside, the stores display a mix of goods aimed at Filipinos alongside imported products, while the architecture often uses glass and open passages to let in light and views of the bay. Families come here not only to buy clothing or electronics but also to spend the day together and eat in restaurants.
The center opens daily at 10 in the morning and closes at 10 in the evening, with access available through several entrances spread across different parts of the complex. Elevators and ramps serve visitors with limited mobility, while information counters in the main halls help with directions.
An internal transport system with cars that each seat around twenty people runs between the far-flung parts of the complex, making it easier for visitors to get around. The site itself was built on reclaimed land, which allowed developers to create a flat area close to the water.
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