Photo by gazjoe

Officials in China have confirmed the location of Apple’s first retail operation on the Mainland, in Beijing’s Sanlitun district, according to China Tech News. The 3000+ square foot outlet, which will be managed and operated by employees of the Cupertino, CA-based computer giant, has been developed by Hong Kong’s Swire Properties as part of a 580,000 square foot mixed use project that includes additional retail and boutique hotel space housed in a 17 building complex.

The expectation is Apple will display and sell its full range of products directly for the first time to Chinese consumers, who up to now have had to acquire Apple gadgetry through licensed third-party retail agents.

Apple will open the three-floor store on July 19 and plans to launch a second Retail Store in Beijing during the Olympics, according to a report today in The Shanghai Daily.