China became home to Starbucks’ first mainland Chinese store in 1999.
Starbucks entered mainland China by opening a store in Beijing, beginning an expansion that eventually made the country one of the company’s most important markets outside the United States. The company adapted its presence to local shopping districts, office areas, and major cities while retaining its recognizable coffeehouse format.
This fact is sometimes confused with Starbucks’ earlier entry into other Asian markets, including Japan in 1996. Hong Kong and Taiwan also have separate business histories and are not the same as the company’s mainland China launch.
China’s importance to Starbucks grew substantially in the following decades. The market became associated with a large store network, locally relevant food and beverage offerings, and major urban café development.