(Yicai Global) Sept. 8 -- More than 200 shopping centers in Chinese cities Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen withdrew about 3,000 brands in the first half of this year, with the vacancy rate hitting a new high of 35 percent, Beijing Business Daily reported today, citing data from commercial property outlet Winshang.

Given the current market environment, shopping malls with both good and bad performance have been rapidly inflated, and in recent years, more and more strong players have entered the sector, accelerating the speed of industry changes, analysts said.

With the large amount of new supply continuing to enter the market, and frequent changes and upgrades, the report predicts that the average vacancy rates of shopping malls in Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen will continue to rise in the second half.