Apple is closing in on its goal of opening 40 new Apple Stores in Greater China by mid-2016, on Sunday announcing a 33rd location that will commence operations later this month in Qingdao.
The largest MixC shopping mall in China will host Apple's newest retail outlet, the company said in an announcement posted to its Chinese website. Apple holds significant lease investments with the nationwide MixC chain, owned by China Resources Land, including in-mall locations in Chongqing, Hangzhou, Nanning and Shenyang.
Like other contemporary Apple Stores, the Qingdao location will sport a Genius Bar, an area for Workshops and a large showroom floor for testing out the latest gear. There are no classes scheduled for the store's Saturday, Jan. 31 grand opening, but slots are currently available for Sunday lessons covering iPhone, iPad, Mac and Internet services.
The Qingdao outlet will be the 33rd Apple Store to open in mainland China following the Jan. 16 grand opening of stores in Nanjing and Guangzhou. As China solidifies its place as a key Apple market, the company has promised to expand brick-and-mortar retail reach into the region by opening the doors to 40 new Apple Stores by mid-2016. Work toward that goal saw new flagships and mall outlets open in Beijing, Chengdu, Hong Kong and more.
Last year, CEO Tim Cook said he anticipates China to one day take over the U.S. and the UK as Apple's largest market, citing a growing middle class and strong regional demand for iPhone. The numbers support Cook's statements, as Greater China generated $12.5 billion in revenue for the last fiscal quarter of 2015, up 99 percent year over year.
The Qingdao Apple Store opens on Saturday, Jan. 30, at 10 a.m. Normal operating hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.