At its current rate of expansion, Apple could conceivably hit its October goal of 40 retail stores in China within a couple of months. The company has just announced that its 33rd Apple Store in China will open on 31st January, making it the fifth new store in the country in one month …
The latest addition will be Apple’s first store in Qingdao, a major port and industrial center due to its proximity to both Korea and Japan. The city is home to the largest Korean population in China.
Qingdao is also noted for the beauty of its beaches, featuring the largest beach in Asia. As a significant tourist destination, Qingdao holds several large-scale festivals each year, including the International Beer Festival, International Sea Festival and Beach Culture Festival.
As with many of Apple’s Chinese stores, the Apple Store in Qingdao will be in a MixC mall, this one boasting over 400 stores and restaurants at 6A Shandong Road in the Shinan District. The grand opening is at 10am on January 31.
Apple announced stores #31 and #32 a couple of weeks ago. China has already overtaken Europe to become Apple’s second-biggest market after the USA, and Tim Cook has said that it is “only a matter of time” before China takes the number one slot.
