The world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, will open a new shopping mall in Xi'an, home of the famous terra-cotta army of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221 B.C.-206 B.C.) in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, according to a city panel.

The panel of 28 people representing all walks of life in Xi'an discussed the location of the shopping mall and its impact on the area's transportation and local commerce.

Twenty-six members on the panel voted for and two others voted against the new shopping mall, which will have a combined floor space of 19,000 sq. m.

The new Wal-Mart shopping mall is expected to start operation in late 2006.

Wal-Mart has opened more than 40 outlets in major Chinese cities, including Shenzhen, Beijing, Harbin and Nanjing, since itsentry into China in 1996. The retailer employs more than 20,000 employees in the country.

Source: Xinhua