For foreigners with—by China standards—large feet, buying shoes can be a very difficult experience. One tip for most foreigners with larger than average feet is to bring enough shoes to last you while in China, for the selection of shoes available in your size are not as numerous and prices rather more expensive if you can find it. However, there will be times when one needs to purchase shoes, so helpful advice on where to buy shoes in larger sizes follows.
In Beijing, the largest shoe sizes normally carried for men and women are European size 44 for men and size 40 for women. The general idea is that the larger the shoe size, the lesser the variety and overall availability there is. Luckily, Beijing does benefit from being China’s capital city and situated in Northern China, meaning the demand and overall availability is acceptable if looking in the right areas.
For men looking for quality dress shoes in large sizes, consider getting custom-made shoes at Laoyu Handmade Shoes near Gulou in Dongcheng District. Shoes here vary in the material and range between 800-1200 RMB, requiring four weeks for turnaround. An ancient Beijing time-honored brand that made shoes during the imperial times called Nei Lian Sheng, located at 34 Dazhalan Jie in Xuanwu District, makes replica imperial period shoes for men, women and children. Men and women looking for sensible shoes in larger sizes can visit the many shops on Pian’an Avenue near Zhangzizhong Lu in Dongcheng District (near the Zhangzizhong Lu station of Beijing Subway Line 5).
If you’re not looking for custom-made or sensible shoes, consider visiting theSanlitunarea of Beijing. At the 3.3 Mall, there is a store called Huge Wave that stocks popular name brands in large sizes, from 36-48. Inside the Nali Mall, long.com is a store that carries more fashionable shoes in larger sizes. If looking for bargains in knock-off shoes, consider Sanlitun’sYashowMarket. There are dozens of stalls with a large inventory of large-sized shoes. Shoe prices are pretty high in these places, so consider bargaining for a lower price, especially at Yashow Market. For shoe buyers who are okay with wearing athletic shoes, these types of shoes are easier found in larger sizes and may sometimes be on sale at factory outlet stores.
For those expats living in Beijing and have a penchant for online shopping, large-sized shoes can be easier found on sites like JD.com, Amazon.cn and even Taobao.com. Some merchants offer consumer-friendly returns and exchanges, and sometimes will even allow you to try your shoes on arrival and pay if you’re satisfied. If looking at expensive shoes, just be cautious about buying authentic shoes by buying from reputable merchants.
