The Asia-Exclusive Air Jordan 1 High 'Xuanwu' Is Limited to 3,399 Pairs

With the Lunar New Year inching closer by the day, Nike, Inc. has treated fans across the globe to the special Air Jordan 1 High 'Xuanwu' for the 'Year of the Snake'.

The retro joins an extensive collection dedicated to the Chinese New Year, which is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Akin to its predecessors, the latest take on Michael Jordan's iconic silhouette features reptilian scales throughout the upper. A muted 'Black/Cream' color scheme claims the bulk of real estate across the shoe. But what it leaves desiring in terms of eye-catching flair is made up for via the number of other textures and patterns covering the Air Jordan–all inspired by the Chinese mythological deity, Xuanwu.

High-quality leather is manipulated to engulf the celebratory sneakers in a similar way to how snakes wrap around their prey. Panels along the tongue borrow the forefoot's scaly presentation, filtering through a luxurious set of 'Black' leather laces. Ankle flaps also nod to the zodiacal figure, with Wings insignias on the lateral side indulging in a jewel-like update that reveals a spotty brown pattern. The same tortoise-reminiscent touch takes over profile swooshes and panels around the lower heel, introducing an ornate update to Peter Moore's 40-year-old design. Callbacks to the 'Year of the Snake' celebration arrive in the form of cloud-like symbols and ancient Chinese star tokens.

Elsewhere, the retro further makes a statement with a semi-translucent, patterned outsole, golden logo hits, and special packaging. Red envelopes are exchanged for a shimmering golden, satin sleeve to house the Jordans. A thematic Nike-branded box and brown outer sleeve round out the AJ1. Furthermore, a note on the back of the tongue label solidify just how special the festive design is: The 'Xuanwu' Jordan 1 is limited to just 3,399 pairs and will only launch across Asia.

Enjoy official photos of the elegant update by Jordan Brand below. A Nike SNKRS China drop is likely to occur before January ends for a whopping $355 USD.

For more from the Jumpman Family, check out the White Nigel Sylvester Air Jordan 4 set to launch throughout the Holiday 2025 season.