Stephen Curry Arrives in Beijing to Begin China Tour, Makes First Appearance Under New Li-Ning Identity

Stephen Curry has returned to China, but this time his return is different from the past. After parting ways with Under Armour, he arrived in Beijing this time as a new face of Li-Ning, beginning the first stop of his China tour.

After the New York Meeting, Landing in Beijing

A few days ago, Curry sat down face-to-face in New York with Li-Ning founder and chairman Li Ning. The head of a $46.2 billion empire and the NBA superstar discussed their landmark 10-year partnership. In June this year, Curry officially joined the Chinese sports brand and signed a 10-year, $400 million contract.

On Tuesday, 38-year-old Curry arrived in Beijing. The Li-Ning partnership has opened several doors for him: the Curry Brand will reach consumers through stores in the United States and China, with product lines covering basketball shoes, casual apparel, and a complete golf series. He can also bring other professional players into his brand. Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler both helped him develop this vision, as Curry himself has personally worn their Li-Ning gear.

China Tour Memories Continue to Build

Curry has long been a frequent visitor to China. In 2015, he first came to China as an Under Armour ambassador, the same year he won the MVP award and an NBA championship with the Warriors, creating a wave of excitement in Beijing, Chongqing, and Shanghai. Over three days, the Curry One became the main attraction, with fan meetings, shoe launches, and lively basketball courts turning the trip into a basketball celebration.

During his 2017 China visit, Curry said: “Being in a position where you can inspire fans around the world is really special.” By 2024, things had begun to change. Chengdu opened the first Curry Brand House, Shenyang hosted a fan Q&A, and Shanghai launched an exhibition related to China's three-on-three basketball program. In 2025, Chongqing brought a nostalgic atmosphere, with Curry camps, Curry carnivals, celebrity appearances, giveaways, and a sky illuminated by drones.

But all of those moments still belonged to the Under Armour era. Now, the four-time NBA champion faces an even bigger milestone.

First Li-Ning Curry Shoe Could Debut This Week

Curry's China tour is entering a new chapter, and Li-Ning is preparing to release its first basketball shoe products related to him. The series includes four Way of Wade 12 models and one Jimmy Butler 4 model, each featuring Curry's familiar logo. The Way of Wade 12 uses the logo on the tongue and heel, with cyan, pink, black, and white options; the Jimmy Butler 4 keeps the logo on the tongue.

Beijing collector and photographer @weocia was the first to share images of the initial shoe releases. Li-Ning also launched a Curry Brand golf shoe earlier this summer. However, Curry's dedicated performance basketball shoe has still not been revealed. The quick arrival of the Jimmy Butler 4 may provide clues about the product release pace following the partnership announcement in June.

Stephen Curry's 2026 China tour is becoming one of the most closely watched visits yet.