Cook appears at Chengdu Taikoo Li, marking the first visit to China by Apple executives this year, with stops at Foxconn and Xinwangda.

According to Sichuan Daily, on the afternoon of March 18, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, appeared at the Apple retail store in Taikoo Li Chengdu.

At around 2:30 p.m. that day, before the event even began, the retail store had already been fenced off, and many residents without the relevant credentials could only stand outside the barriers.

It is understood that this is because Tim Cook is coming to take part in Apple’s 50th anniversary celebrations. In preparation for Apple’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the Apple retail store in Taikoo Li Chengdu temporarily closed that day.

April 1, 2026 marks Apple’s 50th anniversary. Apple previously announced that in March it would hold a series of celebration events in locations around the world to showcase the support Apple products provide for creative work across all industries. This is the global second stop of Apple’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The first stop was the concert held by Apple at New York’s Grand Central Terminal.

It is worth noting that this month, Apple executives have launched the first China-visit trip of the year, sending a clear signal of ongoing efforts to deepen cooperation with China’s supply chain.

On March 17, Apple Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan arrived in Shenzhen for the first stop, visiting the battery factory of Dynapack (300207) and the Foxconn iPhone final assembly production lines in sequence. That day, reporters also went along to conduct an on-site investigation into the latest advances in China’s manufacturing in terms of automation and smart manufacturing.

During an interview with a reporter from 21st Century Business Herald, Sabih Khan said: “Shenzhen and Apple have a lot of history; I come here often to visit. You could say that the journey of Apple’s entire supply chain begins in Shenzhen. First, critical manufacturing steps were carried out here—from the iMac to the iPad, and then the iPhone. Over the past two or three decades, China’s supply chain has seen significant growth. By working together, we can achieve greater outcomes than by competing on our own. We are mutually interdependent.”

At the same time, he also mentioned the plan in China’s “15th Five-Year Plan” outline for high-quality manufacturing, talent, and AI, saying it will further enhance the overall supply chain capabilities, so that innovations that were previously difficult to realize can become a reality.