The Chinese government has brought in developers to connect China to Russia by rail. There will also be better access by sea to the country from Africa and the Mediterranean, through the Silk Road project, Jean-Pierre Heim, founder and architect of Heim Design, told the World Retail Congress in Madrid.

He showed delegates cocoon-inspired designs his firm is working on such as the Eco-Village, based in Bishan, Chongqing, which showcases a fresh approach on hospitality design paired with contemporary advanced technology.

“I don’t want to import materials. I want to use local materials,” he said.

At one outlet centre, there will be a part of the centre to show how nearby peasant workers harvest tea.