$bbtitle
Apple Stock: 196.19 ( +2.07 )
RSS RSS Twitter Twitter
Search:
AppleInsider.com Archives News Bytes Reviews Anonymous Mailer Submit Story AppleInsider Forums Mac Prices Polls Advertise on AppleInsider Contact AppleInsider
Save over $268 on MacBook Pros and $150 on iMacs with special coupons: Mac Pricing Guide updated Feb. 9th (Find the best prices on Macs).
Friday, July 18, 2008

Apple retail invades China this weekend (photos)

By Sam Oliver

Published: 01:00 PM EST

iPad hands-on preview
Ahead of the summer Olympics, Apple on Saturday will open the doors to its first retail store in China, a glass-enclosed high-profile shop situated in Beijing's newest retail development: the Village at Sanlitun.

Keeping with his tradition of attending Apple's gala international retail launches, our friend Gary Allen from ifoAppleStore has made the grueling journey across the Pacific to be on hand for tomorrow's grand opening at 10:00 a.m.

Allen reports that Apple's space within the Sanlitun complex "is nearly invisible from the street," because it sits within the center's inner courtyard. "But once you see it, it’s impressive -- a three-story glass façade covering two visible floors, and a level covered with stainless steel."

A large overpass reportedly caps off the store, funneling patrons to and from other portions of the shopping center. The overpass itself is covered with stainless steel and punctuated with a back-lit Apple logo near center mass.

Inside, customers will find the usually array of Mac and iPod products, as well as a sprawling Genius Bar staffed with technical support specialists. However, one thing they won't find is the iPhone, as Apple's negotiations with Chinese wireless carriers remain a work-in-progress.

According to Allen, a crowd of over 110 people had queued up in an enclosed space just to the left of the store as of midnight Saturday morning local time.

AT&T Hotspot Login
Apple Store Sanlitun in Beijing, China | Copyright: 变脸.


AT&T Hotspot Login
The courtyard at Village at Sanlitun | Copyright: sortabella.


AT&T Hotspot Login
Entering the courtyard at Village at Sanlitun | Copyright: sortabella.


AT&T Hotspot Login
Apple retail VP Ron Johnson addresses the local media Thursday | Copyright: sortabella.


AT&T Hotspot Login
Apple Store Sanlitun's sprawling Genius Bar | Copyright: sortabella.


AT&T Hotspot Login
A broader view of the Village at Sanlitun retail complex | Copyright: sortabella.

Filed under : General 22 Comments ] 
Story topics: Apple Retail   Print ] [ Story Link ] 



Mac Poker players can play Full Tilt Poker for Mac and get 100% to $600 free with bonus code MP600, courtesy of Online Poker Mac
AppleInsider Features
Hot Forum Topics

Recent Articles
Apple seen to extend exclusive iPhone deal with AT&T
iTunes price increases mean slower sales for music labels
Apple introduces 64-bit Aperture 3 with Faces and Places
Apple's share of U.S. smartphone market grows to 25% - study
iPhone OS 3.1.3 sees 14% adoption in 6 days, new hack released
Amazon rethinking Kindle in the wake of Apple iPad
Purported 4th gen Apple iPhone parts show largely unchanged design
Execs say Apple could lower iPad price if market demands it - report
Consumers lose interest in iPad after Apple's unveiling - survey
Higher Amazon e-book prices expected to coincide with iPad launch
Inside Apple's iPad: VGA video output
Unannounced Core i7 Apple MacBook Pro surfaces in benchmarks logs
Apple's new beta of Mac OS X 10.6.3 includes few changes
One in five physicians likely to purchase Apple iPad - study
Sling Media says it didn't change iPhone SlingPlayer to appease AT&T
Credit Suisse: 75% chance AT&T keeps iPhone exclusivity in 2010
Apple denying iPhone apps that use location framework for targeted ads
Apple's iPad deal gives Hachette pricing leverage against Amazon
Eccentric but effective Steve Jobs pitches iPad to NYT execs
Owners of flickering 27-inch iMacs claim 15% refund from Apple
IDC: Apple iPhone was No. 3 smartphone in 2009 with 14.4% of market
Future Apple iPhones could share current location during a call
AT&T, Sling Media partner to allow 3G access on iPhone SlingPlayer
Apple's iTunes Preview now offers browser-based App Store access
Amazon acquires touch-screen maker for future Kindle project
Nehalem Mac Pro systems suffer audio-based performance issues
Two new hires are Apple's latest moves in mobile advertising
AT&T outbid Verizon with cheaper Apple iPad data plans - rumor
Apple seen moving 2M iPads in 2010 before sales 'catalyst' emerges
Apple iPad deal pushes another publisher to renegotiate with Amazon
Apple allegedly selects new manufacturer for next-gen iPhone
ScrollMotion tapped by publishers to develop textbook apps for iPad
Apple denies iMac production halt as shipment times improve
Apple releases iPhone OS 3.1.3 with battery reporting fix
U.S. senator presses Apple on human rights practices in China
Photo of Apple's next-generation iPhone in the wild - sources
Despite sales growth, Apple's iPhone loses market share - report
Intel 6-core i7-powered Mac Pro rumored to launch this month
iPad photos show slot for forward-facing video camera
Apple releases 2nd potential fix for flickering 27-inch iMacs

 
Advertisements








AppleInsider RSS Feed
AppleInsider © 1997-2008
Please review our Privacy Policy.
Written/Edited/Compiled by the AppleInsider Staff.