Apple previews new Shanghai store ahead of Thursday's opening

Following a teasing "opening soon" notice on its website, Apple has now officially announced that Apple Jing'an will open at 7pm local time on March 21, 2024. The news was announced in a press statement and the store's own site confirms the details of the opening.

"We're thrilled to open Apple Jing'an," Deirdre O'Brien, Apple's senior vice president of Retail, said in a statement, "a store that seamlessly blends the traditional with the modern and perfectly complements this historic neighborhood in Shanghai."

"From our phenomenal iPhone lineup to the new 13- and 15- inch MacBook Air," she continued, "Apple Jing'an brings all of our products and services together with an amazing team to create a truly magical shopping experience for our customers."

Located near Shanghai's Jing'an Temple and Jing'an Park, the store is west of the city's first-ever Apple Store, Apple Pudong, which opened in 2010.

The new store is slightly inset into the ground, with seating around its stop edge, and a wide open plaza in front. Apple says this space will be a gathering place for special events.

Opening events include the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra's youngest members playing classical music. A six-week special version of Today at Apple called Let Diverse Creativity Bloom in Jing'an, which showcases local artists and the community.

Those Today at Apple sessions will take place in the store's double-curved walls that stretch out into a circle to form an amphitheater. To get to the sessions, customers can approach the store through a maple tree grove that affords a view of the landmark Jing'an Temple.

"There is another harbor in your creative journey," says Apple on the store's website, in translation, "and Apple Jing'an has officially settled in Shanghai!"

"Discover talented musicians here, listen to witty podcasts, and experience excellent apps and games," it continues. "[These] wonderful things come from Shanghai, or are inspired by Shanghai, and there are more 'Shanghai' movements waiting for you."

It's unusual for an Apple Store to open its doors for the first time in an evening. At present, the website still gives no other opening hours information, but is taking bookings which suggest that Today at Apple will begin from March 23, 2024.