The first Apple Store to open in China is reported to be joining 300 shops on Beijing's Qianmen Street, which is undergoing a $40 million renovation to restore it to Ming-era architecture. The store is scheduled to open before the August 8th opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics. The renovated street will become the city's second pedestrian-only shopping street and it's reported that Apple will be forgoing its well-established storefront in favor of a design that will blend with the Chinese architecture surrounding it.
China joined the World Trade Organization in 2005, and recently passed laws allowing non-Chinese companies to fully own businesses within China. Dell and Best Buy have already entered the market, which undoubtedly factored into Apple's decision to include Beijing in the 40 stores scheduled to open this year.
[via ifoAppleStore]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-04-2008 @ 12:13PM
Jon Niola said...
I wonder if you get your machine serviced there if they load it with malware, trojans and cover everything with a nice toxic dust...
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2-04-2008 @ 12:40PM
David said...
Considering Apple already has almost all their products built in China and they seem to be fine generally, I doubt that...
2-04-2008 @ 1:43PM
spriter said...
You've never been to China, have you?
2-04-2008 @ 12:44PM
Reza Tayebi said...
Good for Apple.
I hope to see more Apple Stores in Asia in future.
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2-04-2008 @ 1:52PM
spriter said...
This store is not before time. Oriental Plaza Mall on WangFuJing has a small D&G Lifestyle store (Apple reseller) which is so small and off the main stretch that it doesn't get much attention, likely due to lack of foot traffic.
There's also a few other resellers around (one near JianGuoMen springs to mind) but again they are too small and too 'out of the way' to get much business.
A flagship store should set that straight but it's interesting they chose QianMen ahead of WangFuJing. I look forward to see what design they come up with.
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2-04-2008 @ 2:14PM
freakscene said...
You failed to mention that Qianmen Street borders Tiananmen Square. Does Apple not remember that they used the photo of the guy standing in front of the column of tanks during the Tiananmen Square Massacre for their Think Different campaign? Not such rebels anymore, are they?
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2-04-2008 @ 2:45PM
spriter said...
True. However, first and foremost Apple is a business and money talks. Or potential money in this case.
Maybe they're hoping the masses who watch the flag up/down every morning/evening will stop by.
2-04-2008 @ 5:33PM
Kyle said...
China can't move past the repressive practices of the Chinese government without a significant and meaningful connection to the rest of the world, and a part of that is developing a strong middle class. This can't be done without foreign businesses being involved. If Apple refused to enter, and others follow suit, it would only encourage authoritarianism to continue in China.
2-04-2008 @ 7:53PM
russ d said...
I think thats a sign of how much things really have changed there. 15 years ago they would never let an Apple store in.
2-04-2008 @ 3:11PM
Peter Zich said...
Makes sense that since they're made there they should get a store.
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2-04-2008 @ 3:34PM
Trevor said...
Typo: "it's well-established storefront" --> "its well-established storefront"
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2-04-2008 @ 7:16PM
davidM said...
Philippines next!
all we have are authorized resellers. |:
I want an Asia iTMS!!
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2-05-2008 @ 1:13AM
Kevin said...
Maybe my memory is messed up, but when I went to Shanghai over Winter break just over a month ago, I could've sworn I went into and look at items in an Apple Store in a mall there.
But even if I didn't, it's not that big of a deal. I know for sure that I saw tons of Apple products in China; mostly iPods, but also MacBooks.
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2-05-2008 @ 11:11AM
Felix H said...
It is not an official Apple Store anyway.