Founded | 1989 1956 (as level 2) | (as level 3)
---|---|
Country | China |
Confederation | AFC |
Number of teams | 20 (2024) |
Level on pyramid | 3 |
Promotion to | League One |
Relegation to | Chinese Champions League |
Domestic cup(s) | Chinese FA Cup |
Current champions | Guangdong GZ-Power (2024) |
TV partners | PPTV (live streaming) |
Website | csl-china.com/cfl |
Current: 2025 China League Two |
The Chinese Football Association League 2 (Chinese: 中国足球协会乙级联赛), 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. 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.
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.
Club | Seasons in League Two | Best finish | Worst finish | Current league | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pinyin name | Chinese name | ||||
Qingdao Hainiu | 青岛海牛 | 2013 | 1st, 2013 | Chinese Super League | |
Hebei Zhongji | 河北中基 | 2011 to 2013 | 2nd, 2013 | North 5th, 2011 | Chinese Super League |
Fujian Smart Hero | 福建骏豪 | 2011 | 3rd, 2011 | Chinese Super League | |
Dalian Aerbin | 大连阿尔滨 | 2010 | 1st, 2010 | Chinese Super League | |
Hubei Luyin | 湖北绿茵 | 2009 | 2nd, 2009 | Chinese Super League | |
Shanghai East Asia | 上海东亚 | 2006 to 2007 | 1st, 2007 | South 7th, 2006 | Chinese Super League |
Changchun Yatai | 长春亚泰 | 1997, 1999 | 5th, 1999 | 6th, 1997 | Chinese Super League |
Henan Construction | 河南建业 | 1995, 1999 | 1st, 1999 | 2nd, 1995 | Chinese Super League |
Wuhan Qianwei | 武汉前卫 | 1995 | 4th, 1995 | Chinese Super League | |
Shenzhen F.C. | 深圳FC | 1994 | 1st, 1994 | Chinese Super League | |
Shandong | 山东 | 1991 | 1st, 1991 | Chinese Super League | |
Nanjing Fengfan | 南京枫帆 | 2020 | 3rd, 2020 | China League One | |
Wuhan Three Towns | 武汉三镇 | 2019 to 2020 | 1st, 2020 | 11th, 2019 | China League One |
Zibo Cuju | 淄博蹴鞠 | 2018 to 2020 | 2nd, 2020 | 19th, 2018 | China League One |
Beijing BIT | 北京理工 | 2006, 2016 to 2020 | 1st, 2006 | 21st, 2018 | China League One |
Chengdu Better City | 成都兴城 | 2019 | 2nd, 2019 | China League One | |
Sichuan Jiuniu | 四川九牛 | 2018 to 2019 | 8th, 2019 | 24th, 2018 | China League One |
Kunshan F.C. | 昆山FC | 2017 to 2019 | 9th, 2019 | 21st, 2017 | China League One |
Shenyang Urban | 沈阳城市 | 2016 to 2019 | 1st, 2019 | 12th, 2017 | China League One |
Suzhou Dongwu | 苏州东吴 | 2016 to 2019 | 4th, 2019 | 14th, 2016 | China League One |
Jiangxi Liansheng | 江西联盛 | 2012 to 2014, 2016 to 2019 | 1st, 2014 | 22nd, 2018 | China League One |
Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic | 陕西长安竞技 | 2017 to 2018 | 3rd, 2018 | 7th, 2017 | China League One |
Nantong Zhiyun | 南通支云 | 2016 to 2018 | 2nd, 2018 | 16th, 2016 | China League One |
Heilongjiang Lava Spring | 黑龙江火山鸣泉 | 2016 to 2017 | 1st, 2017 | North 5th, 2016 | China League One |
Meizhou Kejia | 梅州客家 | 2013 to 2015 | 1st, 2015 | 5th, 2013 | China League One |
Guizhou Zhicheng | 贵州智诚 | 2008 to 2010, 2012, 2014 | 1st, 2012 | 8th, 2008 | China League One |
Hubei China-Kyle | 湖北华凯尔 | 2012 | 2nd, 2012 | China League One | |
Beijing Baxy&Shengshi | 北京八喜盛世 | 2009 | 3rd, 2009 | China League One | |
Zhejiang Green Town | 浙江绿城 | 1999 to 2000 | 8th, 2000 | Group 5th, 1999 | China League One |
Anhui Litian | 安徽力天 | 2015 | South 5th, 2015 | Chinese Champions League | |
Guangxi Longguida | 广西龙桂达 | 2015 | South 7th, 2015 | Nanning Super League | |
Fujian Broncos | 福建超越 | 2014 to 2015 | South 8th, 2015 | South 9th, 2014 | Quanzhou Super League |
Hangzhou Wuyue Qiantang | 杭州吴越钱唐 | 2019 | 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 | 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 | 3rd, 2019 | Defunct | |
Lhasa Urban Construction Investment | 拉萨城投 | 2019 | 26th, 2019 | Defunct | |
Nanjing Shaye | 南京沙叶 | 2019 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 7th, 2008 | Defunct | |
Zhanjiang Tiandi No.1 | 湛江天地壹号 | 2008 | 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 | 7th, 2006 | Defunct | |
Beijing Bus | 北京巴士 | 2006 | 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 | 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 | 2nd, 2000 | Defunct | |
Shanghai 02 | 上海02 | 2000 | 4th, 2000 | Defunct | |
Guangzhou Baiyunshan | 广州白云山 | 1998, 2000 | 1st, 1998 | 3rd, 2000 | Defunct |
Jiangsu Gige | 江苏加佳 | 1997 | 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 | 2nd, 1996 | Defunct | |
Shanghai Pudong | 上海浦东 | 1995 | 1st, 1995 | Defunct | |
Sichuan Quanxing | 四川全兴 | 1989 to 1990 | 2nd, 1990 | 7th, 1989 | Defunct |
Foshan | 佛山 | 1989 | 1st, 1989 | Defunct |
Season | Sponsor | Annual Value | Official League Name |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | 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 |