The Philippines and the city of Manila are home to extremely large malls that are almost small cities in themselves. The largest of these malls is known as the SM Mall of Asia which is the largest such mall in the Philippines, the 3rd largest in the world and the 2nd largest in Asia.

The structure of the mall consists of four buildings that are connected via walkways. These 4 sections are known as the Main Mall, Entertainment Mall, and the North and South Car Park buildings.

The mall is so large that one of the concerns of the parent company was ensuring that customers did not lose their way in the gigantic complex. It was for this reason that two concierge desks were placed to assist guests in finding their way around the complex.

The mall has over 600 shops and due to the structure's enormous size you find a large SM Department Store, SM Hypermarket, and the SM Appliance Center. Everything from toys, hardware, jewelry, fashion clothing and more can be found in this extremely large shopping venue. There is also a monstrous food court that offers a vast selection of food outlets as well as a selection of restaurants.

One of the mall's other major attractions is its impressive I-Max theatre which was the first in the country. The theatre also features a private screening area with 30 lazy boy seats for intimate screenings, a Premiere Cinema and a Center Stage Cinema that can also be used for musical performances.

The mall also has the Philippines' first Olympic sized ice skating rink which is often described as being the biggest of its kind in Asia. This rink has been used for both recreational and professional skating purposes.

Visitors to SM Mall can also find the SM Science Discovery Center which is the first of its kind in the world. The center serves as an education tool and features a digital planetarium, a range of technology and several science themed exhibits. This functions as an impressive educational platform and helps promote the causes of science and environmentalism.

SM Mall also houses a convention centre which is the largest in the Philippines. The centre features a large amount of meeting space and can accommodate up to 6,000 people allowing it to functions as a business meeting venue as well.

Staying at a nearby hotel in Manila, Philippines allows easy access to this gargantuan collection of shopping and leisure options. The Heritage Hotel Manila is just such a hotel located just 2km away from the mall.