Apple Sanlitun, Apple's newest store in China, is opening today

Apple Sanlitun Beijing Opening Exterior
Apple Sanlitun Beijing Opening Exterior (Image credit: Apple)

What you need to know

  • Apple Sanlitun is opening today.
  • The new store in Bejing is twice the size of the location it is replacing.
  • It features an integrated solar array, a first for any Apple Store in China.

Apple has announced that its newest retail store in China is opening today. Apple Sanlitun, which is replacing another store located on Taikoo Li's open square, is twice the size of the previous location.

Apple today will open the entirely new Apple Sanlitun, the next iteration of Apple's first store in China. Sitting adjacent to the previous location on Taikoo Li's open square in Sanlitun, the brand new store is twice the size of the original and introduces several firsts for Apple in China. It is also opening with the same comprehensive health and safety procedures currently in place across all Apple Store locations for employees and visitors, including a mask requirement, temperature checks, and social distancing before entry and inside the store.

The new store brings a number of features enjoyed at many other Apple stores around the world, including the Forum, Viewing Gallery, and Boardroom.

The new store features many of Apple's latest retail design updates, including a Forum, Viewing Gallery, and Boardroom. The Forum will be the future home for Today at Apple, where the store will host some of Beijing's greatest artists, musicians, and creatives who will showcase and teach their process. The Viewing Gallery, situated within the grand upper level, offers a stunning vantage point for the lively outdoor square. Local businesses and entrepreneurs can get personal advice and guidance from the Apple team in the store's dedicated Boardroom. With more than double the space of the previous store dedicated to service and support, customers will have ample room to meet with a Genius or experience Today at Apple.

The store features an integrated solar array, a first for any of Apple's stores in China.

Apple Sanlitun also features Apple's first integrated solar array in a retail store in China. The array will provide power to the store below, which, like all Apple facilities worldwide, runs exclusively on renewable energy. Apple is supporting enough clean energy in China to power more than 450,000 homes each year.

Apple Sanlitun Beijing Opening Apple Solar Array

Apple Sanlitun Beijing Opening Apple Solar Array (Image credit: Apple)

Deirdre O'Brien, Apple's senior vice president of Retail + People, says that the store "sets a new standard for Apple Retail in China."

"This store sets a new standard for Apple Retail in China and we're thrilled to build on our history in Beijing. We look forward to operating Apple Sanlitun, and all of our stores around the world, with the health and safety of our customers and teams as our top priority."

Apple Sanlitun Beijing Opening Interior

Apple Sanlitun Beijing Opening Interior (Image credit: Apple)

The new store will open at 10 a.m. CST. and, in order to attend the opening, visitors will need to scan their personal health QR code, which certifies you are in good health, in order to enter the store.

You can check out all the information about the store opening and photos of the location on the Apple Newsroom website.

Joe Wituschek
Contributor

Joe Wituschek is a Contributor at iMore. With over ten years in the technology industry, one of them being at Apple, Joe now covers the company for the website. In addition to covering breaking news, Joe also writes editorials and reviews for a range of products. He fell in love with Apple products when he got an iPod nano for Christmas almost twenty years ago. Despite being considered a "heavy" user, he has always preferred the consumer-focused products like the MacBook Air, iPad mini, and iPhone 13 mini. He will fight to the death to keep a mini iPhone in the lineup. In his free time, Joe enjoys video games, movies, photography, running, and basically everything outdoors.