Beijing loves IKEA—but not for shopping. With no plans one Saturday, Zhang Xin told his wife, son and mother to wear something smart and hop in the family sedan. He could have taken them to the Forbidden City or the Great Wall, but he decided on another popular destination—IKEA.Riding an escalator past a man lying on a display bed with a book opened on his belly, the clan sauntered into the crush of visitors squeezing onto the showroom path, bumping elbows and nicking ankles with their yellow shopping trolleys.Zhang said the family needed a respite from the smog and a reliable lunch.…Welcome to IKEA Beijing, where the atmosphere is more theme park than store.…Every weekend, thousands of looky-loos pour into the massive showroom to use the displays. Some hop into bed, slide under the covers and sneak a nap; others bring cameras and pose with the decor. Families while away the afternoon in the store for no other reason than to enjoy the air conditioning.Visitors can’t seem to resist novelties most Americans take for granted, such as free soda refills and ample seating. They also like the laid-back staffers who don’t mind when a child jumps on a couch. [thanks, j]
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Beijing loves IKEA—but not for shopping.

With no plans one Saturday, Zhang Xin told his wife, son and mother to wear something smart and hop in the family sedan. He could have taken them to the Forbidden City or the Great Wall, but he decided on another popular destination—IKEA.

Riding an escalator past a man lying on a display bed with a book opened on his belly, the clan sauntered into the crush of visitors squeezing onto the showroom path, bumping elbows and nicking ankles with their yellow shopping trolleys.

Zhang said the family needed a respite from the smog and a reliable lunch.…

Welcome to IKEA Beijing, where the atmosphere is more theme park than store.…

Every weekend, thousands of looky-loos pour into the massive showroom to use the displays. Some hop into bed, slide under the covers and sneak a nap; others bring cameras and pose with the decor. Families while away the afternoon in the store for no other reason than to enjoy the air conditioning.

Visitors can’t seem to resist novelties most Americans take for granted, such as free soda refills and ample seating. They also like the laid-back staffers who don’t mind when a child jumps on a couch.

[thanks, j]

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