The first shop was due to open on September 22 in Ningbo, followed by two in Shanghai and Tianjin.

A fourth store is expected to open later this year at the Scitech Premium Outlet Mall in Beijing.

Gap China president Redmond Yeung said: “As we continue to execute our expansion strategy in China, the time is right to open these Gap Outlet stores. The value sector in China is relatively new and presents additional market opportunities.”