Tim Cook: Apple Store in Beijing reopens with 100% renewable energy

Apple Store in Beijing's Sanlitun has reopened after renovation, CEO Tim Cook announced on Friday via his official Sina Weibo account.

Apple Sanlitun, the first Apple Store to debut in China about 12 years ago, will run on 100 percent renewable energy, with a large part coming from its own rooftop solar array, Cook said.

The new store, about 100 meters away from the old one, opened at 10 am on Friday with better position, more space, more dedicated design and huge colorful wallpapers at the door.

Covered with large 3D stainless steel panels on the roof, the new Apple Sanlitun is the first retail store in the Asia-Pacific to use an integrated solar battery pack, Sina Finance reported.

Statistics show Apple Sanlitun has received over 22 million customers over the past 12 years.

The sales of Apple products in China was merely $9.46 billion in the first quarter of this year, down 7 percent year-on-year from $10.2 billion.

To promote sales and stimulate consumption, Apple launched its first discount campaign during the "June 18" shopping festival at Tmall, China's biggest e-commerce platform.
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iPhone sales recorded 500 million yuan, surpassing the mobile phone's whole-day transaction volume in the Chinese market within five hours of the discount campaign kick-off, according to Tmall.