Asia's biggest Apple store opens in Beijing

BEIJING - Apple's largest store in Asia opened in Beijing on Saturday.

The store, located in the city's commercial street of Wangfujing, is Apple Inc's third in Beijing and its sixth on the Chinese mainland.

A member of the crowd gathered for the official opening of a new Apple store looks at security staff as he waits in line in Beijing's Wangfujing shopping district October 20, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

John Browett, Apple's senior vice-president of retail, had previously said that the new store is the company's largest store in Asia, with an area of 2,300 square meters and more than 300 employees.

A full range of accessories for Apple products is available in the store, according to Browett.

Xinhua reporters on the scene saw hundreds of Apple fans waiting in line before the store opened at 9 am.

"We will bite the 'Apple,'" said one customer.

Apple currently has 390 retail stores around the world, and the company is stepping up its efforts to expand its presence in China.

Browett said a store in the South China city of Shenzhen is also about to open and there will be more stores across China in the future.