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Apple to open first retail store in China near Tiananmen Square

Monday, February 4, 2008 · 11:33 am · 18 Comments

“The 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing (China) have taken years of preparation, including the planning and construction of an Apple store to open before the August 8th opening ceremonies. Now the location of the store has been revealed: Qianmen Street, an historic half-mile long avenue at the south end of Tiananmen Square that is undergoing an extensive $40 million renovation,” ifoAppleStore reports.

“According to architecture sources, Apple’s store will blend in with the Chinese architecture rather than use its standard storefront designs,” foAppleStore reports.

Full article here.

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Comment Feed

18 Comments

marcos

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 12:36 pm · Reply

A licensed seller of iPhones can’t be too far behind this news
Mac+

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 1:17 pm · Reply

They need to open 4 more like this in China to cope with the rising demand of Apple produc. Especially (unlocked) iPhonet!!!
Spark

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 1:25 pm · Reply

Boo. I don’t like seeing Apple opening stores in China, especially one near Tiananmen Square. That is a repressive government that limits what it’s citizens can say and hear. (and please don’t whine that our government does the same. It’s not even close) The same people that bemoan the NSA scanning phone traffic for terror-related keywords, embrace and enable China, whose government does far more, and far worse as a daily practice. I guess Apple is lured by the potential of such a huge market, but most American companies have found that China holds more promise than it actually delivers.
YoYo

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 1:26 pm · Reply

Cool a real Apple store, it’s getting a bit crowded here

http://www.apple.com.cn/store/
mike_in_helsinki

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 1:48 pm · Reply

@Spark …. cool it. Same ole liberalspeak crap. Every company that wants to stay in the game is already in Beijing, and most famous international retailers of consumer goods is located in this particular area … ALREADY. I know the place.

You have never been to China … once. But you are quick to start spouting nonsense.

Get real. And Apple is going there, so if that doesn’t fit into your perfect world, then BUY FROM ANOTHER VENDOR.
MizuInOz

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 2:00 pm · Reply

@Spark…

Interesting feedback – from no one’s comments.
Yes – the Chinese govt is repressive – and does not hide it.
Yes – the US govt is repressive – and tries to hide it – which is worse?

Which is worse – having limited freedoms -I have many friends in China who acclaim the new openness and freedoms and raised standard of living.

or

having your freedoms stolen from you in the name of safety and protection – the same excuses that Germany used in the 30s?

Your comment about the magnitude of the market in China and people not seeing it bemoans of someone who has not actually dealt with Chinese business. It is VERY real. And the Chinese pay their bills – on time! And the yuan is strong!

I think that China will one day have at least 50 Apple stores.
I hope.

I am going to the Olympics and I hope I can see the Beijing Store. That would be sooooooo cool! Can you imagine a “Hello, I’m a Mac” T-shirt in Chinese!!!:

您好，我是一個麥金塔電腦
rancher

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 2:03 pm · Reply

And within two weeks a cheap knockoff of the Apple Store will appear two blocks away – only the doors won’t work.
Uh Oh

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 2:29 pm · Reply

The opening is to be followed by tanks crushing ipod users.
CheekyGit

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 2:32 pm · Reply

Buy a Mac….get an side order of egg rolls for free.

Complimentary fortune cookies at the door.

Offer available for a limited time only.
Architectural Question

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 2:49 pm · Reply

I wonder if the windows are made up of bullet-proof glass in case the police decide to attack unarmed people protesting for democracy again.
bon

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 3:02 pm · Reply

@Architectural Question
Good point.

@MizulnOz-
Having actually lived in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the United States, I think that I’m qualified to say that despite profound imperfections in the US government, there is simply no comparison to the daily corruptive practices found in many other countries. Sure, the US government has real issues that need to be addressed, but they’re eensy-teensy compared to, oh, I don’t know, machine gunning people in public squares. Or denying women the right to vote. Or taxing your people to the point of starvation while you pass the time in one of four properties in places like the US.

Enough with the Michael Moore nonsense.
Ampar

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 3:12 pm · Reply

Considering its location, this Apple Store should have no problem staying well stocked. Maybe a few manufacturer’s outlet stores too?
Spark

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 5:29 pm · Reply

I deal with a lot of manufacturing companies that do business in China. I’ve spoken with many people that do business in China and read business articles from others. It’s one thing to set up a high profile retail outlet, it’s another to do ‘business’ there as we know it in the West. Look at what Google has to do in filtering its search per edicts from the Chinese government that wants to limit what its citizens can learn about. Beijing wants a pretty face for 2008 Olympics, and Apple is just part of the makeup. I don’t blame the government for that — all Olympic hosts use the event to put on a pretty face — but don’t let that fool you into thinking liberties and opportunities available to the average citizen in the West are shared by the average Chinese populace. Lastly, I admire the history and culture of China, and have many Chinese friends (most from Taiwan, which I’m sure shades my opinions), but I don’t care for the methodology of mainland China’s government, and I feel Apple is being used in this case as window dressing. I also think “Business” in general is amoral (not immoral) and is a big enabler of that government’s oppression of human rights. No government is perfect, including ours in the United States, but at least here I have the right and ability to write freely on this chat board and say it stinks if I want to without being labeled a dissident and risking jail.
Mr.Mark

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 8:29 pm · Reply

Finally something to look forward too instead of all those Olympic madness. That’s where I would stay in China for a little bit longer … a grand opening of the first ever China Apple store … would Steve be there then as well?
The Truth

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 8:40 pm · Reply

“According to architecture sources, Apple’s store will blend in with the Chinese architecture rather than use its standard storefront designs,”

Also…

1. The store will sell (PRODUCT) RED merchandise exclusively…except, none of the proceeds will go to fight AIDS.

2. Employees are told their store uniforms were inspired by CEO, Steve Jobs, who is always seen wearing his, ahem, “trademark Mao suit”.

3. Contrary to their stores in the West, visits to the Genius Bar will be a remarkably efficient process. At the time of your scheduled appointment, the Apple Genius will call you to the bar, berate you for your selfishness, and tell you to get the hell out of the store.
Walter

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 9:03 pm · Reply

If Apple can crack China we’re all gonna be rich. But then if China becomes the new super power over America we might all be screwed too.

i heard that by 2020 all Americans must be earning 32million per anum each to pay for the nation debt. 2020 aint far away. I saw Laurie Anderson (80s singer) talking about it on YouTube. Dunno how acurate she is.
KenC

Monday, February 4, 2008 - 9:30 pm · Reply

What’s the big deal? It’s an Apple Store. The US Embassy is already there. I lived there during the Tiananmen Square Massacre. I had my Mac SE with me. There used to be a Computerland with Mac support on the large boulevard, west of Tiananmen, which tanks used to roll into the Square. I worked on the east side of that same boulevard, and have pics of dozens of tanks blocking the boulevard, from my office.

An Apple Store has no relevance to civil unrest, neither supporting the Communist regime or opposing it, contrary to whatever Big Brother imagery Apple used in the early 80s.

The only thing I worry about is all the pollution and dust. It’s a killer.

About our national debt. That’s rubbish. Look at the historical percentages of debt to GDP. It’s within the normal percentage for the last 50 years.
SKY LARK

Tuesday, February 5, 2008 - 5:09 am · Reply

@ Spark

Not to single Apple out, but then this article is about Apple.

Companies that engage in business within China, like Apple are intending to, play an intrinsic part in liberalizing the system, for the benefit of all.

The best way to foster change is to achieve it from within the system as opposed to trying to “force” it from outside. While this might take longer, it is much preferable to the consequences of the alternative.

I assume that you do not have an iPod.