Apple to open its own stores in Beijing

THE BIG FRUIT themed mobile phone and music player company of Cupertino, California has announced that it will be opening two stores in Beijing, the first one before the Olympic Games.

Apple said it will locate its first storefront, about 1,000 square meters in size, in the Sanlitun bar and restaurant district. Its second outlet will be larger at about 3,000 square meters and located in the Qianmen Avenue area.

There are a few boutique stores selling Apple products in large Chinese cities, but those belong to the company's resellers. The two Beijing stores will be the first in China owned by Apple itself. µ