(Yicai Global) Dec. 26 -- Hamleys Of London Ltd., a UK retailer with a 257-year history, held the grand opening for its largest store in the world on Dec. 23 -- just in time for Beijing shoppers to buy gifts before Christmas.

Located on the first to fifth floors of the Wangfujing Department Store, the shop covers an area of 11,000 square meters.

C.banner International Holdings Ltd. [HK:1028], a leading Chinese footwear firm, acquired Hamleys for GBP100 million (USD134 million).

Hamleys has locations in Nanjing and Xuzhou.