Culture Matters

63 Jing’an Villa, Nong 1025 Nanjing Xilu, near Maoming Beilu
21/5213-0889

HOURS: Daily noon-9 p.m.

METRO: West Nanjing Road (Line 2)

This shop lies off the beaten track down picturesque Lane 1025 [1] and stocks every imaginable permutation of China’s answer to Converse, the mighty Huili (Warrior) shoe. Created in the 1970s, Huili was the nation’s first homegrown sneaker and is still popular among hipsters and kung fu practitioners alike.

For an extra cost, Culture Matters will customize a pair for you. Or, you can pick from the ready-decorated pairs. The shop also sells original Shanghainese Feiyue sneakers with their distinctive red and blue logo.

Culture Matters isn’t the only place to buy Feiyue and Huili shoes, but it definitely has the best selection and most creative renderings.