H&M opened its first mainland China store in Shanghai in 2007.
The opening marked H&M’s entry into one of the world’s most important and fastest-growing fashion markets. Shanghai was a natural choice because it is a major commercial, cultural and international retail centre.
H&M’s expansion in China continued with stores in other major cities, including Beijing and Guangzhou. China later became an important market for the wider H&M Group, alongside other large markets in Europe and North America.
A common mix-up is confusing H&M’s first Chinese store with its first Asian store. H&M entered Asia before mainland China, opening in Hong Kong in 2007; Hong Kong was then a separate retail market from mainland China. The Shanghai opening refers specifically to mainland China.