Apple has officially announced their upcoming store opening in Shanghai on their website in China, though not providing a date as of yet. The webpage offers wall papers marking the design as noted in our cover graphic. Apple Jing'an will become the 57th Apple store in mainland China.

A store opening usually boosts sales and more sales for this quarter are needed to counter the first half of the quarter which has been recorded as a dip. Statistics are correctly accounted for in increments of a full quarter. Counterpoint Research recently published a statistical report with limited data covering half a quarter.  It clearly came across as a propaganda tool to boost China's Huawei against Apple. At the end of the quarter, we'll see if the Counterpoint report was justified or if it was used as a tool to promote Huawei.   

Hopefully the new Apple Store will open early enough in March for it to matter for Apple's current quarter.

Below is a conceptual image of the new Apple Store in Shanghai. The Store entrance is located in the lower courtyard. 

(Click on image to greatly Enlarge)