BEIJING -- Apple Inc is expected to open a new store in downtown Beijing, its third in the city and sixth on the Chinese mainland, on Oct 20, the company said Wednesday.

The new store, which will reportedly be the largest Apple store in Asia, will be located on Wangfujing Street, a bustling commercial area.

An Apple spokesman declined to say whether the company will offer the iPhone 5 to the mainland market after the store opens.

Apple's iPhones and iPads are immensely popular among young Chinese. But with only five authorized Apple stores in the country, copycats have sprung up to meet market demand.

Last year, police in Southwest China's city of Kunming busted 25 stores that were using the company's logo and selling counterfeit Apple products.