Chinese vintage ballet flats in Taipei have been all over my FYP! If you are planning a trip to Taipei, Taiwan, you will want to read this post detailing the location of the store, how much they cost, sizing, service, and more.
These “ballet flats” are traditional Chinese embroidered shoes. And not all of them are flat; some pairs have heels! They come in a variety of fabrics as well.
Price of Ballet Flats in Taipei
The ballet flats in Taipei cost $400 NT, which is about $12 to $13 USD. They are actually a great price for the uniqueness of the shoes. I’ve never seen these in the USA.
Selection
They have a lot of different styles!! From flats to heels. From fabric to mesh and velvet. Some pairs have ankle straps, some don’t. I went when they were closing and didn’t have a lot of time to look at all the styles. They even have some smoking slippers!
I knew, however, I wanted a pair of red shoes, and I did pick up a pair of those. What I didn’t realize at the time is they had a heel!
There is quite a selection here, and I tried on a few pairs to test out the sizing and ended up with two pairs!
Sizing of Ballet Flats in Taipei
The embroidered ballet flats in Taipei run small. I told the clerk I was a size 37 or 6.5, and she gave me a size 38 to try. They fit perfectly! All the sizing is in centimeters, but the clerk knew what size I needed. I saw on TikTok that they go up to a pretty large size, but remember you will need to size up 1 to 1.5 shoe sizes. This is especially true if you have wider feet.
Are the Ballet Flats in Taipei Comfortable
The ballet shoes are pretty comfortable for flats. I’ve always hated ballet flats, actually, because the edges always dig into my feet. These shoes did not dig in! But true to their name, they are pretty flat, with little arch support.
Where is the Ballet Flat Store in Taipei, Taiwan & How to Get There
I’m sure there is more than one store in Taipei that sells these embroidered shoes, but I only found one labeled in Google Maps.
It’s pretty easy to reach about at about a 10-minute walk from the Xinmen Station green line) and NTU Hospital Station (red line). Although the label on Google Maps is a bit confusing as to which side the store is facing since it’s very small. I almost left because I thought it was closed, but I was just on the wrong side of the corner.
Here’s the exact address in Google Maps:
No. 42號, Section 1, Wuchang St, Guangfu Village, Zhongzheng District
You’ll see videos of people saying it’s on Wuchang St, but if you just search “Wuchang St” on Google Maps, you will be in the wrong area; there is more than one Wuchang St.
The one you want is “Section 1, Wuchang St.”
The store’s name is Ding Long Bai Huo, but you won’t find it on Google Maps labeled as such. “Bai Huo” roughly translates to a mall. The label is in Chinese: 鼎隆百貨 and labeled in English as just “shoe store.”
My mom would call this more of a general store. They sell more than just the vintage Chinese ballet flats. I saw some aprons and dish towels there as well!
FAQs
What is the name of the ballet flats store in Taipei?
The store’s name is Ding Long Bai Huo, and in Chinese: 鼎隆百貨.
What is the address of the ballet flats store in Taipei?
No. 42號, Section 1, Wuchang St, Guangfu Village, Zhongzheng District
Does the shopkeeper of the ballet flats store in Taipei speak English?
I personally did not speak English to her, but I’ve read they speak English, Chinese, and Japanese. I did find a lot of stores in Taiwan that spoke japanese.
What’s the biggest size the ballet flats store in Taipei have?
The biggest size they carry is 26 cm or an 8.5 in U.S. sizing. But remember they run small, so you will have to size up 1 to 1.5 sizes.
What are the store hours?
According to Google, the store hours are from 11 am to 6 pm. Speaking to the shopkeeper, however, she said they were open from 12 pm to 6 pm. I actually arrived a bit after 6 pm while she was near closing up, but she let me look anyway.
Can you try on the shoes?
From what many people have said on TikTok and online, they only let you try on 2 pairs, but she told me to try any pair I wanted to and to help myself!
Is the staff rude?
I’ve read several Google reviews, and I got a comment saying the staff was rude, but I did not find this to be the case. The lady who helped me was super nice, letting me shop and try on shoes even though she was closing. She even helped me with size when I told her my U.S. size. The comment on my Reel stated she was rude to locals but welcoming to foreigners. I am assuming she could tell I was from the US, but I did speak Mandarin to her and not English. Also, I did want to say this is a “general store,” not necessarily a “shoe store.” If you want a luxury shopping experience, I would go to Taipei 101.
What forms of payment do they take?
They do not take credit cards, only cash.
How much do the shoes cost?
They cost $400 NT, which is about $12 USD.