It is the current 3rd largest mall in Thailand, following CentralWorld and CentralPlaza WestGate, and one of the biggest shopping centres in Asia. The mall opened on 9 December 2005, operated by Siam Piwat and The Mall Group. Siam Paragon includes a wide range of specialty stores and restaurants as well as a multiplex movie theatre (consisted of 15 large size theaters with one of them having the b
iggest screen and seating capacity in Asia)[citation needed] and the Sea Life Ocean World (Underwater world) aquarium (the largest aquarium in South East Asia) and an exhibition hall and the Thai Art Gallery and also an opera concert hall. It is a joint venture by Siam Piwat, the company that owns the adjacent Siam Center/Siam Discovery shopping malls, and The Mall Group, which also owns The Emporium. Siam Paragon has attracted large crowds since it opened, but financial results aren't reported by the privately held Siam Paragon Development. Siam Paragon was built on the former location of the Siam Intercontinental Hotel, which was demolished in 2002 at the end of its lease. The site, leased for 30 years, is Bureau of the Crown Property land and at one time was the royal parkland of the Srapatum Palace. During the mall's construction, waiting passengers on the Bangkok Skytrain's Siam station platform could watch the building take shape. When the mall opened on December 9, 2005, workers were still putting on finishing touches. During the first few months of its opening, there were signs of a hurried finish throughout the building, with unpainted ceilings and cracked floor tiles. It was built at a cost of about 15 billion baht or 450 million US$ and covers an area of 52 rai (8.3 ha, 21 acres). Siam Paragon has become since its opening the place to be for Thailand's upper class, tourists, and locals who come to be seen and to see what Thailand has to offer. Paragon remains among the most popular shopping ground for the small number of Thai elite, without excluding everyday commonplace and popular Thai items. Siam Paragon is on Rama I Road in Pathum Wan district, and is adjacent to other shopping areas. It is next door to Siam Center and Siam Discovery Center and opposite Siam Square. MBK Center is also nearby. An elevated walkway beneath the BTS Skytrain tracks links Siam Paragon to the Ratchaprasong intersection, where CentralWorld, Gaysorn and several other shopping malls and hotels are located. BTS Skytrain Sukhumvit and Silom Lines – Siam station has a skybridge linked to Siam Paragon's M floor. Parking – 100,000 square metres, accommodating 4,000 cars.
