Nanjing Metro released passenger flow data for the first day of the May Day holiday, showing that the Ningma Line welcomed its first holiday period since opening, with a daily ridership reaching 195,800 passengers, setting a new record. The surge in passengers brought by Line S2 is flowing into Nanjing's major commercial districts and streets. Taking the metro across cities to visit trendy flagship stores has become a new consumption experience for many residents of Ma'anshan traveling to Nanjing during this holiday.
On the morning of May 1st, at Nanjing MixC World, the newly opened East China flagship store—the world's second ACG BaseCamp—had already attracted large crowds. Guided by the concept of "gear up and go wild," the store focuses on three core areas: trail running, hiking, and outdoor exploration, introducing an immersive outdoor experience into an urban retail space, making it a new landmark for visitors during the holiday.
Chen Ze, an outdoor enthusiast from Ma'anshan, made a special trip via Line S2 to visit the store. "I've been following this East China flagship store for a long time. When I heard it opened in Nanjing yesterday, I came specifically to shop. Taking the metro to Nanjing is very convenient now," he said. He purchased a globally launched quick-dry T-shirt on-site and noted that Nanjing's flagship stores lead in both format and style, making cross-city visits particularly convenient.
"Young people are abundant in Nanjing, and the city has strong appeal to surrounding areas, bringing us significant foot traffic," said Jiang Hang, store manager of ACG BaseCamp. The store welcomed many customers from its opening day, with daily footfall exceeding 1,700 visitors. Both customer traffic and sales performance surpassed expectations.
Recently, the world's second ACG BaseCamp officially opened at Nanjing MixC World. On its opening day, the store achieved sales exceeding 300,000 yuan, setting a new brand record for launch performance. Choosing Nanjing for its East China flagship store undoubtedly reflects confidence in the city's consumption capacity and strong foundation in outdoor sports.
ACG stands for All Conditions Gear, indicating its aim to create equipment capable of handling all conditions. Launched by Nike in 1989, this outdoor sub-brand has evolved over time, aligning with the global rise of outdoor culture, and has now become a strategically significant part of Nike's market presence.
Focusing on trail running, hiking, and outdoor exploration, ACG brings immersive outdoor experiences into Nanjing's retail space, injecting new professional outdoor energy into the city, which blends natural landscapes with urban environments.
The store's striking entrance design draws inspiration from the shape of China's Antarctic Taishan Station. The name Taishan symbolizes stability, solemnity, and national prosperity, representing China's standing among global communities. ACG's entrance design pays tribute to the exploratory spirit of Chinese scientific teams and resonates with local consumers.
The brand uses a high-saturation orange as its primary color, highly visible in forests, waters, and foggy conditions, emphasizing practical utility in the wild. The store is divided into five thematic zones, using immersive spatial storytelling to make consumers feel as if they are in the midst of nature while in a bustling commercial district.
The main camp area features natural textures and animal motifs, accompanied by ambient sounds like bird songs, creating an authentic outdoor atmosphere. The exploration zone uses interactive narrative displays to showcase ACG's core technology and innovative products. The equipment section is precisely categorized for trail running, hiking, and urban exploration, meeting professional needs for different outdoor scenarios.
The ACG ByYou customization zone allows consumers to create personalized outdoor gear, adding unique touches to each item. The community hub will host diverse activities such as outdoor salons, field tests, and expert sharing sessions, creating a gathering point for outdoor enthusiasts.
As Fitz Paccione, General Manager of Nike Greater China's ACG category, stated, "The ACG BaseCamp is not just a retail store but a true consumer destination—a space where people gather before heading outdoors into nature."
During the May Day holiday, ACG introduced two global launch exclusive products in Nanjing: the ACG Radical AirFlow top, designed for maximum breathability with an innovative air-management system, and the Zegama trail-running shoes, developed through rigorous testing with athletes, engineered for complex terrains with superior grip, cushioning, and propulsion.
On opening day, Yao Miao, a renowned Chinese trail runner, visited Nanjing MixC World to inaugurate the new space. As the first Asian athlete to win three world-class trail running championships and currently ranked first in the International Trail Running Association's women's 50-kilometer category, Yao Miao is a iconic figure in Chinese trail running.
As a core member of ACG's All Conditions Racing Department, Yao shared her growth journey and insights from competitions, inspiring more people to explore trails and embrace nature with her professional perspective and international experience.
Concurrently with the store opening, ACG launched a comprehensive training camp for the Chongli 168 ultra-trail race, providing professional pre-race support for participants. This year, ACG is not only sponsoring the Chongli 168 but also partnering with events like Broken Arrow Skyrace and Gorge Waterfalls, supporting the growth of trail running.
On opening day, led by Yao Miao, over 70 trail runners from across the country and Nanjing gathered at the ACG BaseCamp and traveled via "mountain express" to Laoshan in Nanjing, testing ACG equipment in real mountain environments and experiencing the joys of outdoor exploration.
Moving forward, ACG BaseCamp will host diverse trail running community activities. Led by ACG outdoor ambassadors, participants can systematically learn about trail running and explore real routes in areas like Purple Mountain and Laoshan, experiencing the all-conditions performance of ACG gear.
Notably, the community managers at ACG BaseCamp are themselves accomplished trail runners, offering targeted, practical guidance based on rich competitive experience, enhancing participant engagement.
Nike views Nanjing's outdoor market as a key growth area for the future. Choosing trail running as ACG's strategic entry point is significant. By 2025, China is expected to host over 300 trail running events. The growth in niche sports products is upgrading Nanjing's consumption landscape.
With ACG's opening, alongside the lightweight outdoor aesthetics of brands like An Ko Rau and the upcoming relocation of Kailas's Rock Space, the concentration of sports and outdoor flagship stores further solidifies Nanjing's leading position in East China's outdoor sports scene.
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