Apple will open its first retail store in Shanghai July 10 in Lujiazui of the Pudong New Area.

The Oriental Morning Post reported Shanghai is likely to be one of the few cities in the Asia-Pacific region with several Apple stores. Apple plans to open two stores in Shanghai and is considering another in the Huangpu Area.

An insider said Apple will launch more retail stores in first and second tier Chinese cities, hoping to have as many retail stores in China as Louis Vuitton.

The first Apple retail store in China opened summer 2008 in Sanlitun, Beijing.

Product prices at the new Shanghai stores will be the same as those of the Beijing store. But not everything will be the same.

The insider said, "Since the iPhone was launched by China Unicom, it won't be available at the Shanghai stores. Shanghai stores will mainly sell computers and iPods."

China's business press carried the story above on Wednesday. China.org.cn has not checked the stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.