I am leaving for Kunming in about a week, and I've been wondering if there is any place I could have shoes made there. I definitely will not be able to wear shoes off the rack in China, but it's nearly equally impossible for me to find shoes in the West. I wear a women's 9.5 AAA, which is two widths narrower than a narrow. I've heard one can have clothes made in China fairly easily. Is the same true for shoes?

I haven't seen anyone making shoes from scratch in Kunming, or any city. Seen some smaller towns or villages which street sellers, usually old women, are assembling some cheap cloth shoes.

I think there are some professional shoe repair shops in Kunming that might be able to alter a shoe. I'm guessing though, as I've only had repair work and not alterations.

Maybe you should check the malls and department stores like Wangfujing. Lots of lady's shoes on offer, and lots of sales right now. And of course, always taobao, though I usually don't bother mentioning taobao, since some other poster is guaranteed to say it in any shopping thread.

Very unlikely you will find any real shoemaker in Kunming. Shoes are simply too cheap here.
In Shaxi on the square you find a embroidered cloth Chinese slipper shop. They can help you out.

I've had 2 pairs of shoes cobbled in China. They were both very good.

One I got in a small cobblers, the second I had made in a friendship store.

I haven't seen a friendship store in Kunming, so you'd be best trying to find a small cobblers. I can't help you more than that as I can't recall seeing one around. All I'll say is when they measure your feet ask them to add a little bit on, as they do tend to make them on the tight side.

I went to a cobbler in Chengjiang (north of Fuxian Lake) about 1 hour out of Kunming with the idea of having some shoes made a year or two back... they apologized and said they didn't have any soles large enough to fit me!

My advice... bring the shoes you will need for the year or less if you don't plan on staying that long. It is SO difficult to find shoes that fit... sometimes you'll be directed to the men's shoes and it's equally difficult buying online as the stated size is not standard. Consider yourself very lucky if you find any shoes that will fit you properly and you like them.

I read a similar forum in Chiang Mai, Thailand where a Canadian expat could not get shoes in his size.

He asked a friend in Vancouver who purchased the shoes to him. Big surprise when he read the label "Made in Thailand".