On the spring-like April 1, China's soccer world welcomed an important gathering of club leaders from the three leagues for the 2021 season in the bustling city of Shanghai. At the meeting, the competition rules and groupings for the much-anticipated new seasons of the Super League (CSL), First Division (CSA) and Second Division (CSB) were officially unveiled.
The drums of the new Chinese Super League season will be beating on April 20, and the opening ceremony will be enthusiastically hosted by Guangzhou. The first phase of the tournament will be held in Guangzhou and Suzhou, the two most popular regions, and teams will need to arrive at the regions by April 17th to prepare for the tournament.
The first phase of the Chinese Super League's conference system grouped like a winding snake, with Tianjin Jinmen Tigers and Guangzhou City completing a special swap, with the Jinmen Tigers ending up in Group B of the Suzhou Division. The group also includes strong teams such as Beijing Guoan, Shanghai Harbor, Shanghai Shenhua, Hebei, Dalian Ren, Changchun Yatai and Wuhan.
The Guangzhou Region brings together three local teams from Guangdong, including Guangzhou, Guangzhou City and Shenzhen, as well as Shandong Taishan, Chongqing Liangjiang Athletic, Henan Songshan Longmen, Qingdao and Cangzhou Lions. The first stage of the new Chinese Super League season will feature Guangzhou Derby, Shanghai Derby and Qilu Derby.
