China builds 'Pentagon' shopping centre in Shanghai

The Shanghai Pentagonal Mart is bigger than the Virginia headquarters of the US defence department, sprawling across over 70 acres, but it has a rather more mundane purpose.

When its doors open at the beginning of next year, it will be a shopping centre. The site is around 40 minutes from the centre of Shanghai by car.

"The project started in 2003," said a spokesman. "Construction started the following year and we are nearly finished. We are just sealing the roof."

He added: "The design of the project was inspired by the appearance of the Pentagon. This building is not only impressive externally, but it is actually a very smart design. The logistics mean that people can circulate freely inside."