Opened in 2003, Dinghao Plaza grew steadily over the ensuing decade and by 2012 was home to more 800 businesses and shops.

The lack of high-quality staff caused an increasing number of complaints from customers about service, while the large volume of customers also put pressure on nearby transportation and infrastructure.

With financial aid and policy support from the government, the Dinghao management team cleared out 180 electronics stores that covered a combined area of nearly 32,000 square meters, 58 percent of the mall's total floor space.

They then introduced 162 high-tech companies and startups. New operations include Innovation Works, the Tsinghua Science Park and the China International Technology Transformation Center.

The number of employees has been reduced by 61 percent, but quality is improving with more professionals and well-educated people joining the team.

The change was very difficult and even "heartbreaking" at the beginning, said Na Shuyuan, deputy general manager of Dinghao Plaza, who recalled that some shop owners wept and begged her to stay when they were negotiating the relocation of their stores.

"They have deep feelings for this building," Na said. "Many shop owners had run their businesses since the establishment of Dinghao and did not quite understand the necessity of the industrial transformation, so they were very sad, even though we had found another place for them."