Northeast China Launches Grassroots Football League

On May 23, 2026, the inaugural Northeast China City Football League — popularly known as the “Northeast Super League” or “Dongbei Chao” — kicked off simultaneously across four cities: Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin, and Hohhot. The tournament marks China’s first cross-provincial regional city football league, bringing together 8 amateur teams, 390 players, and a schedule of 34 matches running from summer through autumn, according to China News Service.

A Grassroots Movement Goes Regional

The “Northeast Super” is the latest and most ambitious iteration of China’s grassroots football phenomenon, following the nationally renowned “Village Super League” (Cun Chao) from Guizhou and regional leagues like “Jiangsu Super” and “Chu Super.” What sets this tournament apart is its scale: it covers approximately 120 million people across Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang provinces and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

As People’s Daily reported, the opening day drew over 100,000 spectators across the four venues combined. Spectator Zhang Qianqian, watching with her child in Hohhot, told reporters: “I came to watch the game to cheer for every ordinary person on the field.” Her sentiment captured the essence of an event built around amateur participation and community spirit.

The 390 players are all amateurs — students, delivery drivers, teachers, and other everyday citizens — drawn from eight city teams: Shenyang, Dalian, Changchun, Yanbian, Harbin, Jixi, Hohhot, and Tongliao. Current and former professional players from the Chinese Super League and lower divisions are barred from participation, ensuring the tournament remains true to its grassroots identity.

Star Power and Cultural Pageantry

Despite its amateur foundation, the league has attracted significant star power. Speed skating Winter Olympic champion Ning Zhongyan has joined the Harbin team as a player, while freestyle skiing gold medalist Wang Xindi and professional basketball player Han Dejun are special players for Shenyang. The legendary 82-year-old former China national football team coach Bora Milutinović kicked off the opening match in Shenyang, drawing a roar from the crowd.

Each host city showcased its unique culture during opening ceremonies. In Hohhot, the festivities featured Mongolian long-tune singing and throat singing, while yurts and leather paintings decorated the venue. Shenyang offered variety performances and food markets. In a heartwarming display of regional camaraderie, over 100 Yanbian fans traveled to Hohhot for the match and were treated to a traditional roast whole lamb by their hosts.

Liu Yong, Party Branch Secretary of the Hohhot Football and Social Sports Development Center, described the tournament as “not only a competition for players, but also a bridge for communication between people and cities. Grassroots football enters daily life, using simple love for sports to bring regions closer and enhance regional exchange and interaction.”

Economic Engine for the Rustbelt

The “Northeast Super” is explicitly tied to China’s “Northeast Revitalization” strategy. Liaoning’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) includes hosting the league as a policy priority, signaling strong government backing and a strategic intent to use sports as an economic development tool for the region.

Phase 1 sponsorship has already exceeded 60 million RMB (approximately $8.3 million), with 19 enterprises on board. The tournament has launched a “One Ticket to Conquer the Northeast” tourism initiative, offering significant incentives across all four participating regions:

• Jilin: 17 A-level scenic spots offer free admission with match tickets; 42 offer discounts
• Heilongjiang: 25% cultural tourism consumption vouchers for fans
• Inner Mongolia: A tourism card covering 10,000+ merchants and 30+ enterprises
• Liaoning: Multiple scenic areas opened for free

According to the Liaoning provincial government, the tournament aims to convert sports traffic into consumer spending and create jobs in event operations, security, and related services.

A Template for China’s Sports Future?

The “Northeast Super” represents a significant scaling-up of China’s grassroots football model. Unlike the county-level “Village Super,” this is a cross-provincial league covering four provincial-level administrative regions. The involvement of Olympic champions, celebrities like actors Yu Hewei and Gao Yuanyuan, and extensive social media coverage — with pre-tournament hashtags on Douyin and Kuaishou exceeding 100 million views — underscores the event’s cultural resonance.

Chinese Football Association Chairman Song Kai has expressed support for the league’s role in football revitalization. NPC Deputy and Shenyang Sport University President Liu Zheng has proposed a “football + ice and snow” cross-season model, suggesting the league could extend into winter sports tourism.

What to Watch For

The regular season runs from May 23 to August 15, followed by a knockout stage from September 5 to October 1. The first round results saw Shenyang defeat Jixi 3-0, Dalian beat Harbin 5-2, while Changchun drew 1-1 with Tongliao and Hohhot played a 0-0 stalemate with Yanbian.

Key questions remain: Can the league maintain its amateur spirit as commercialization grows? Will it expand to include more cities in future seasons? And perhaps most importantly, can it serve as a genuine talent pipeline for Chinese football?

For now, the “Northeast Super” has already achieved something remarkable: bringing together millions of people across one of China’s most culturally rich regions through the simple, universal appeal of grassroots sport.