China League Two
{{Short description|Association football league in China}}
{{Infobox football league
| logo = China League Two.svg
| pixels = 200
| country = China
| organiser = Chinese Professional Football League
| confed = AFC
| founded = {{Start date and age|1989}} (as level 3)
1956 (as level 2)
| teams = 24 (2025)
| promotion = China League One
| relegation = Chinese Champions League
| levels = 3
| domest_cup = Chinese FA Cup
| season = 2024
| champions = Guangdong GZ-Power
| current = 2025 China League Two
| tv = PPTV ({{small|live streaming}})
| website = {{URL|https://www.csl-china.com/#/zynews}}
}}
The Chinese Football League 2 ({{zh|s=中国足球乙级联赛}}), or China League Two, is the third-tier league of the People's Republic of China. The league is under the auspices of the Chinese Football Association and operated by the Chinese Professional Football League (CFL). Above League Two are China League One and the Chinese Super League.
The league below China League Two is the Chinese Champions League.
There are two groups in League Two, northern and southern. The top four teams from each group enter the promotion play-off after each regular season. Harbin Songbei Yiteng and Chongqing F.C. reached promotion play-off final in 2011 and the two clubs were promoted to League One. In 2011, China League Two 3rd-placed team faced 2011 China League One last-placed team for a play-off match. Fujian Smart Hero which was the 3rd-placed team of 2011 China League Two has won this match against the 2011 China League One last-placed team Guizhou Zhicheng and earned a spot in the 2012 China League One.
History
The Chinese Football Association League 2 (abbreviation: China League 2) is the third level of the Chinese Football Professional League organized by the Chinese Football Association, after the Chinese Football Association Super League, before the Chinese Football Association B League, formerly known as the China Football League B.
In 1987, due to the year of the National Games and the national team's impact on the Olympic Games, the Chinese Football Association tried to divide the national football league into A and B groups, and in 1989 the A and B leagues were officially established, in 1994 the 1 and 2 leagues were professionalized, and in 2004 the A and B leagues were reorganized into the China League 1 League.
In 2022, the policy will change, and the Chinese Super League and China League One will implement a "3 up, 3 down" policy in the 3 seasons. Rules: 16th, 17th and 18th places in the Chinese Super League are directly relegated to the Chinese League One, while the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in the Chinese League One are directly promoted to the Chinese Super League. This didn't apply to China League One and League Two, however.
Current clubs
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%" |
| colspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Home City !rowspan="2"|Stadium !rowspan="2"|Capacity !rowspan="2"|Seasons in League Two !rowspan="2"|Spell in level 3 !rowspan="2"|Head coach |
|---|
| Club name
!Name in Chinese |
| Beijing Institute of Technology
|北京理工 |5,000 |2006, 2016 to 2020, 2023 to 2025 |from 2023 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Yu Fei |
| Changchun Xidu
|长春喜都 | | | |from 2025 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Li Bin |
| Chengdu Rongcheng B
|成都蓉城B | | | |from 2025 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Xu Jianye |
| Ganzhou Ruishi
|赣州瑞狮 |Dingnan Youth Football Training Center |12,000 |2022 to 2025 |from 2022 |{{flagicon|SRB}} Dragan Stančić |
| Guangdong Mingtu
|广东铭途 |Zhaoqing New District Sports Center Stadium |20,000 |2025 |from 2025 |{{flagicon|JPN}} Tsutomu Takahata |
| Guangxi Hengchen
|广西恒宸 |60,000 |2024 to 2025 |from 2024 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Liu Junwei |
| Guangxi Lanhang
|广西蓝航 |20,000 |2023 to 2025 |from 2023 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Gong Lei |
| Guangzhou Dandelion Alpha
|广州蒲公英 |12,000 |2025 |from 2025 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Tan Ende |
| Guizhou Zhucheng Athletic
|贵州筑城竞技 |Guiyang Olympic Sports Center |51,636 |2025 |from 2025 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Zhu Jiong |
| Hangzhou Linping Wuyue
|杭州临平吴越 |Linping Sports Centre Stadium |10,200 |2024 to 2025 |from 2024 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Xu Lei |
| Hubei Istar
|湖北青年星 |22,137 |2019 to 2025 |from 2019 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Gao Feng |
| Jiangxi Lushan
|江西庐山 |13,188 |2012 to 2014, 2016 to 2019, 2025 |from 2025 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Wang Bo |
| Kunming City
|昆明城星 | | |2022 to 2025 |from 2022 |{{flagicon|GER}} Michael Weiß |
| Lanzhou Longyuan Athletic
|兰州陇原竞技 |Lanzhou Olympic Center Stadium |60,000 |2024 to 2025 |from 2024 |{{flagicon|KOR}} Shin Hong-gi |
| Nantong Haimen Codion
|南通海门珂缔缘 |15,000 |2022 to 2025 |from 2022 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Lu Qiang |
| Quanzhou Yassin
|泉州亚新 |Jinjiang Football Training Center |8,000 |2021 to 2025 |from 2021 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Yang Xiaoqi |
| Shandong Taishan B
|山东泰山B |Zoucheng Sports Centre Stadium |30,000 |2024 to 2025 |from 2024 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Han Peng |
| Shanghai Port B
|上海海港B |30,000 |2024 to 2025 |from 2024 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Chen Xufeng |
| Shanxi Chongde Ronghai
|山西崇德荣海 | | |2024 to 2025 |from 2024 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Yu Ming |
| Shenzhen 2028
|深圳二零二八 | | |2025 |from 2025 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Wang Baoshan |
| Tai'an Tiankuang
|泰安天贶 |32,000 |2022 to 2025 |from 2024 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Yuan Weiwei |
| Wenzhou Professional
|温州职业 |Wenzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium |50,000 |2021 to 2025 |from 2021 |{{flagicon|MAC}} Carlos Leonel |
| Wuhan Three Towns B
|武汉三镇B | | |2025 |from 2025 |{{flagicon|CHN}} Jiang Kun |
| Wuxi Wugo
|无锡吴钩 |Wuxi |28,000 |2021 to 2022, 2025 |from 2025 |{{flagicon|KOR}} Kim Bong-gil |
Former clubs
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| colspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Seasons in League Two !rowspan="2"|Best finish !rowspan="2"|Worst finish !rowspan="2"|Current league |
|---|
| Pinyin name
!Chinese name |
| Qingdao Hainiu
|青岛海牛 |2013 |colspan=2|1st, 2013 |
| Hebei Zhongji
|河北中基 |2011 to 2013 |2nd, 2013 |North 5th, 2011 |
| Fujian Smart Hero
|福建骏豪 |2011 |colspan=2|3rd, 2011 |
| Dalian Aerbin
|大连阿尔滨 |2010 |colspan=2|1st, 2010 |
| Hubei Luyin
|湖北绿茵 |2009 |colspan=2|2nd, 2009 |
| Shanghai East Asia
|上海东亚 |2006 to 2007 |1st, 2007 |South 7th, 2006 |
| Changchun Yatai
|长春亚泰 |1997, 1999 |5th, 1999 |6th, 1997 |
| Henan Construction
|河南建业 |1995, 1999 |1st, 1999 |2nd, 1995 |
| Wuhan Qianwei
|武汉前卫 |1995 |colspan=2|4th, 1995 |
| Shenzhen F.C.
|深圳FC |1994 |colspan=2|1st, 1994 |
| Shandong
|山东 |1991 |colspan=2|1st, 1991 |
| Nanjing Fengfan
|南京枫帆 |2020 |colspan=2|3rd, 2020 |
| Wuhan Three Towns
|武汉三镇 |2019 to 2020 |1st, 2020 |11th, 2019 |
| Zibo Cuju
|淄博蹴鞠 |2018 to 2020 |2nd, 2020 |19th, 2018 |
| Beijing BIT
|北京理工 |2006, 2016 to 2020 |1st, 2006 |21st, 2018 |
| Chengdu Better City
|成都兴城 |2019 |colspan=2|2nd, 2019 |
| Sichuan Jiuniu
|四川九牛 |2018 to 2019 |8th, 2019 |24th, 2018 |
| Kunshan F.C.
|昆山FC |2017 to 2019 |9th, 2019 |21st, 2017 |
| Shenyang Urban
|沈阳城市 |2016 to 2019 |1st, 2019 |12th, 2017 |
| Suzhou Dongwu
|苏州东吴 |2016 to 2019 |4th, 2019 |14th, 2016 |
| Jiangxi Liansheng
|江西联盛 |2012 to 2014, 2016 to 2019 |1st, 2014 |22nd, 2018 |
| Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic
|陕西长安竞技 |2017 to 2018 |3rd, 2018 |7th, 2017 |
| Nantong Zhiyun
|南通支云 |2016 to 2018 |2nd, 2018 |16th, 2016 |
| Heilongjiang Lava Spring
|黑龙江火山鸣泉 |2016 to 2017 |1st, 2017 |North 5th, 2016 |
| Meizhou Kejia
|梅州客家 |2013 to 2015 |1st, 2015 |5th, 2013 |
| Guizhou Zhicheng
|贵州智诚 |2008 to 2010, 2012, 2014 |1st, 2012 |8th, 2008 |
| Hubei China-Kyle
|湖北华凯尔 |2012 |colspan=2|2nd, 2012 |
| Beijing Baxy&Shengshi
|北京八喜盛世 |2009 |colspan=2|3rd, 2009 |
| Zhejiang Green Town
|浙江绿城 |1999 to 2000 |8th, 2000 |Group 5th, 1999 |
| Anhui Litian
|安徽力天 |2015 |colspan=2|South 5th, 2015 |
| Guangxi Longguida
|广西龙桂达 |2015 |colspan=2| South 7th, 2015 |
| Fujian Broncos
|福建超越 |2014 to 2015 | South 8th, 2015 | South 9th, 2014 |
| Hangzhou Wuyue Qiantang
|杭州吴越钱唐 |2019 |colspan=2|21st, 2019 |Inactive |
| Shaanxi Laochenggen
|陕西老城根 |2012 to 2013 |8th, 2012 |South 7th, 2013 |Inactive |
| Sichuan F.C.
|四川FC |2006 to 2007, 2010 to 2012 |2nd, 2007 |South 11th, 2011 |Inactive |
| Qingdao QUST
|青岛青科 |2009 to 2011 |8th, 2011 |North 7th, 2009 |Inactive |
| Shenzhen Bogang
|深圳壆岗 |2020 |colspan=2|10th, 2020 |Defunct |
| Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli
|江苏盐城鼎立 |2016 to 2020 |4th, 2018 |18th, 2016 |Defunct |
| Taizhou Yuanda
|泰州远大 |2019 |colspan=2|3rd, 2019 |Defunct |
| Lhasa Urban Construction Investment
|拉萨城投 |2019 |colspan=2|26th, 2019 |Defunct |
| Nanjing Shaye
|南京沙叶 |2019 |colspan=2|23rd, 2019 |Defunct |
| Fujian Tianxin
|福建天信 |2018 to 2019 |7th, 2018 |13th, 2019 |Defunct |
| Shenzhen Pengcheng
|深圳鹏城 |2018 to 2019 |17th, 2019 |18th, 2018 |Defunct |
| Yanbian Beiguo
|延边北国 |2018 to 2019 |18th, 2019 |23rd, 2018 |Defunct |
| Dalian Chanjoy
|大连千兆 |2017 to 2019 |12th, 2019 |17th, 2017, 2018 |Defunct |
| Jilin Baijia
|吉林百嘉 |2017 to 2019 |14th, 2018 |22nd, 2019 |Defunct |
| Baoding Yingli ETS
|保定英利易通 |2015 to 2016, 2018 to 2019 |2nd, 2016 |25th, 2019 |Defunct |
| Yinchuan Helanshan
|银川贺兰山 |2014 to 2019 |3rd, 2017 |North 7th, 2015 |Defunct |
| Anhui Hefei Guiguan
|安徽合肥桂冠 |2018 |colspan=2|27th, 2018 |Defunct |
| Shanghai Sunfun
|上海申梵 |2017 to 2018 |18th, 2017 |26th, 2018 |Defunct |
| Shenzhen Ledman
|深圳人人雷曼 |2016 to 2018 |4th, 2017 |11th, 2016 |Defunct |
| Hainan Boying
|海南博盈 |2016 to 2018 |16th, 2018 |22nd, 2017 |Defunct |
| Sichuan Longfor
|四川隆发 |2014 to 2018 |1st, 2018 |South 6th, 2014 |Defunct |
| Yunnan Flying Tigers
|云南飞虎 |2013 to 2016, 2018 |1st, 2016 |20th, 2018 |Defunct |
| Shenyang Dongjin
|沈阳东进 |1996, 2000 to 2006, 2008, 2013 to 2018 |1st, 2008 |28th, 2018 |Defunct |
| Chengdu Qbao
|成都钱宝 |2014 to 2017 |4th, 2015 |10th, 2017 |Defunct |
| Shanghai JuJu Sports
|上海聚运动 |2014 to 2017 |South 6th, 2015 |20th, 2016 |Defunct |
| Meizhou Meixian Techand
|梅州梅县铁汉 |2005, 2011 to 2017 |2nd, 2017 |South 6th, 2012 |Defunct |
| Tianjin Huochetou
|天津火车头 |1989, 1998, 2004 to 2010, 2012 to 2016 |2nd, 1989 |South 11th, 2012 |Defunct |
| Dalian Transcendence
|大连超越 |2014 to 2015 |2nd, 2015 |5th, 2014 |Defunct |
| Sichuan Leaders
|四川力达士 |2014 |colspan=2|South 7th, 2014 |Defunct |
| Shandong Tengding
|山东滕鼎 |2013 to 2014 |4th, 2013 |North 8th, 2014 |Defunct |
| Taiyuan Zhongyou Jiayi
|太原中优嘉怡 |2012, 2014 |2nd, 2014 |North 9th, 2012 |Defunct |
| Shenzhen Fengpeng
|深圳风鹏 |2012 to 2013 |colspan=2|3rd, 2012, 2013 |Defunct |
| Qinghai Senke
|青海森科 |2012 to 2013 |4th, 2012 |7th, 2013 |Defunct |
| Dali Ruilong
|大理锐龙 |2012 to 2013 |5th, 2012 |South 6th, 2013 |Defunct |
| Xinjiang Begonia
|新疆海棠 |2012 |colspan=2|North 5th, 2012 |Defunct |
| Shanghai Zobon
|上海中邦 |2004, 2011 to 2012 |1st, 2004 |North 6th, 2012 |Defunct |
| Chongqing F.C.
|重庆FC |2011 |colspan=2|2nd, 2011 |Defunct |
| Wenzhou Provenza
|温州葆隆 |2008 to 2010 |South 5th, 2009, 2010 |South 6th, 2008 |Defunct |
| Tianjin Songjiang
|天津松江 |2007 to 2010 |2nd, 2010 |North 5th, 2007 |Defunct |
| Ningbo Huaao
|宁波华奥 |2006 to 2009 |8th, 2006 |South 7th, 2008 |Defunct |
| Shijiazhuang Tiangong
|石家庄天工 |2008 |colspan=2|7th, 2008 |Defunct |
| Zhanjiang Tiandi No.1
|湛江天地壹号 |2008 |colspan=2|South 8th, 2008 |Defunct |
| Guangdong Sunray Cave
|广东日之泉 |2007 to 2008 |2nd, 2008 |South 7th, 2007 |Defunct |
| Tianjin Dongli
|天津东丽 |2006 to 2008 |7th, 2007 |North 7th, 2006, 2008 |Defunct |
| Xinjiang Sport Lottery
|新疆体彩 |2006 to 2008 |10th, 2007 |North 6th, 2006, 2008 |Defunct |
| Suzhou Trips
|苏州趣普仕 |2005 to 2008 |South 5th, 2008 |South 8th, 2005, 2006 |Defunct |
| Guangxi Tianji
|广西天基 |2006 to 2007 |4th, 2007 |South 6th, 2006 |Defunct |
| Qingdao Liming
|青岛黎明 |2005 to 2007 |North 7th, 2005 |North 8th, 2006, 2007 |Defunct |
| Zhenjiang Groupway
|镇江中安 |2004, 2007 |North 7th, 2007 |South 8th, 2004 |Defunct |
| Anhui Jiufang
|安徽九方 |2003 to 2007 |3rd, 2006, 2007 |South 11th, 2004 |Defunct |
| Hebei Xuechi
|河北雪驰 |2006 |colspan=2|7th, 2006 |Defunct |
| Beijing Bus
|北京巴士 |2006 |colspan=2|North 5th, 2006 |Defunct |
| Liaoning Zhongba
|辽宁中巴 |2005 to 2006 |North 5th, 2005 |North 9th, 2006 |Defunct |
| Yunnan Lijiang Dongba
|云南丽江东巴 |2004 to 2006 |3rd, 2004 |7th, 2005 |Defunct |
| Wuhan Yaqi
|武汉雅琪 |1996 to 1999, 2003 to 2006 |5th, 1998, 2006 |South 6th, 2004 |Defunct |
| Nanchang Bayi Hengyuan
|南昌八一衡源 |2003 to 2005 |1st, 2005 |6th, 2004 |Defunct |
| Xizang Huitong Luhua
|西藏惠通陆华 |2002 to 2005 |6th, 2005 |16th, 2002 |Defunct |
| Beijing Hongdeng
|北京宏登 |2001 to 2005 |2nd, 2005 |Group 6th, 2001 |Defunct |
| Yanbian F.C.
|延边FC |1989 to 1990, 2001 to 2004 |1st, 1990 |7th, 2001 |Defunct |
| Dalian Sundy
|大连三德 |2002 to 2003 |1st, 2003 |3rd, 2002 |Defunct |
| Dalian Sidelong
|大连赛德隆 |2001 |colspan=2|2nd, 2001 |Defunct |
| Gansu Tianma
|甘肃天马 |2000 to 2001 |4th, 2001 |Group 4th, 2000 |Defunct |
| Qingdao Hailifeng
|青岛海利丰 |1995 to 2001 |3rd, 1999 |Group 5th, 1996, 2000 |Defunct |
| Tianjin Lifei
|天津立飞 |2000 |colspan=2|2nd, 2000 |Defunct |
| Shanghai 02
|上海02 |2000 |colspan=2|4th, 2000 |Defunct |
| Guangzhou Baiyunshan
|广州白云山 |1998, 2000 |1st, 1998 |3rd, 2000 |Defunct |
| Jiangsu Gige
|江苏加佳 |1997 |colspan=2|1st, 1997 |Defunct |
| Chengdu F.C.
|成都FC |1996 to 1997 |2nd, 1997 |3rd, 1996 |Defunct |
| Shaanxi National Power
|陕西国力 |1996 to 1997 |3rd, 1997 |Group, 1996 |Defunct |
| Xiamen F.C.
|厦门FC |1996 to 1997 |6th, 1996 |Group 4th, 1997 |Defunct |
| Shenzhen Kinspar
|深圳金鹏 |1996 |colspan=2|2nd, 1996 |Defunct |
| Shanghai Pudong
|上海浦东 |1995 |colspan=2|1st, 1995 |Defunct |
| Sichuan Quanxing
|四川全兴 |1989 to 1990 |2nd, 1990 |7th, 1989 |Defunct |
| Foshan
|佛山 |1989 |colspan=2|1st, 1989 |Defunct |
Winners
Sponsors
| class="wikitable" |
| + Sponsorships |
| Season
!Sponsor !Annual Value !Official League Name |
|---|
| 2016
|rowspan="3"| Winlink Sports |¥5 million |Winlink Chinese Football Association China League |
| 2017
|¥5 million |Winlink Chinese Football Association China League |
| 2018
|¥6 million |Winlink Chinese Football Association China League |
See also
References
{{reflist|35em}}
External links
- [http://www.thecfa.cn/zy/index.html China League Two official website] {{in lang|zh}}
- [http://sports.sohu.com/s2008/7416/s257087416/ News] at Sohu {{in lang|zh}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060901063942/http://zuqiuziliao.cn/china/ League history] at The Chinese Soccer Statistics Collection {{in lang|zh}}
- [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/chinahist.html League history] at RSSSF
{{China League Two}}
{{AFC third leagues}}
{{Football in China}}
Category:Third-level football leagues in Asia