Following the recent performance at Grand Central Station in New York City by 17-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys, officially unveiling...The first in-person event of Apple's 50th anniversary celebration.Following this, this global tech extravaganza arrived in Asia. Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Chengdu, China on March 18th, appearing at the Apple Store in Taikoo Li, where he was joined by renowned Chinese singer Li Yuchun, born in Chengdu, and numerous Apple fans to celebrate this milestone moment for the tech giant as it celebrates its half-century anniversary. This not only marked the first stop of Tim Cook's first visit to China in 2026, but also highlighted Apple's high regard for the Greater China market.
Half a century of innovative heritage: Revisiting the spirit of "Think Different"
Since its founding on April 1, 1976, Apple has celebrated its 50th anniversary. At the Chengdu event, Tim Cook emotionally stated, "Imagine the difference—that's always been Apple's core philosophy. Driven by this philosophy, we create products that empower people to express themselves, connect with each other, and achieve great things. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has journeyed with us and to all those who have tirelessly illuminated our path."
To demonstrate its commitment to "localization," Apple chose Chengdu as the venue for its Greater China celebration and invited Li Yuchun, a prominent artist who rose to fame in Chengdu and gained international recognition, as a special guest artist. Li Yuchun performed several classic songs that connect across generations, including "Queen and Dream," "Priceless Sister," "Just Like You," and "See You at the Next Intersection." Reflecting on her 20-year career in the entertainment industry, Li Yuchun admitted that Apple's iconic "Think Different" campaign was a significant source of inspiration for her early creative work.
Global Connection: The Shock of New York and the Rising Star of Seoul
This 50th anniversary celebration was a globally synchronized cultural event. In addition to Chengdu Taikoo Li, Apple also showcased how its products inspire human creativity at other key locations around the world.
• Apple Grand Central Station, New York:On March 13, Alicia Keys delivered an unforgettable performance on this historic and iconic staircase, and the energy and intimacy of the entire event were captured and presented in its entirety using an iPhone 17 Pro.
• Myeongdong, Seoul (Apple Myeongdong): Apple invited CORTIS, the K-pop monster rookie group that debuted last summer and swept the globe, to meet with fans. In addition to performing "GO!" from their upcoming album, CORTIS also shared how they built their global fanbase using Apple Music Radio and the immersive music experience they recently launched for Vision Pro, which allows fans to watch their choreography rehearsals from an unprecedented perspective.
With impressive revenue in Greater China, Tim Cook's next stop is Beijing.
Tim Cook's personal visit to Chengdu was backed by strong performance data. According to Apple's Q1 2026 financial report, sales in Greater China grew strongly to $255 billion. Tim Cook proudly stated that Apple "achieved growth far exceeding our expectations" in China, attributing this success to "product-driven" growth.
After concluding his trip to Chengdu, Tim Cook is expected to travel to Beijing to attend the China Development Forum, to be held from March 22 to 23, where he is expected to further engage in exchanges with local political and business leaders.
