China, a country with a passion for football that is rapidly growing, boasts a collection of football stadiums that are not only architectural marvels but also iconic symbols of the nation’s dedication to the beautiful game. From ultramodern designs to stadiums that seamlessly blend with their surroundings, these venues offer spectators an unforgettable experience. In this article, we delve into the aesthetic wonders of the 10 most beautiful football stadiums in China.
10. Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center Central Stadium
Capacity: 39,346
Location: Guangzhou, China 
The Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center Central Stadium is a stadium situated in the Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. It is used mainly for association football, athletics, rugby union, and rugby sevens. It held rugby and football events at the 2010 Asian Games. Starting from 2013, it also held the China Women’s Sevens as part of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series. The stadium has a capacity of 39,346, making it the third largest stadium in Guangzhou, after Guangdong Olympic Stadium and Tianhe Stadium. The Guangzhou Rams rugby team sometimes uses the venue for their big games.
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09. Hongkou Football Stadium
Capacity: 33,060
Location: Shanghai, China
The stadium has 3 squash courts inside and a climbing wall, which was rebuilt in early 2009. The stadium is currently used mostly for football matches and it is the home stadium of local football team Shanghai Shenhua F.C. It also hosted the final of the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The stadium also was the home of Shanghai Guotai Jun’an Yongbo Women’s F.C., a local women’s football team, in 2016 season.
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08. Qingdao Youth Football Stadium
Capacity: 50,000
Location: Shandong, China
Qingdao Youth Football Stadium is a football stadium in Qingdao, Shandong, China. It is the home of Chinese Super League club Qingdao Hainiu since 2023.Construction of the stadium began on 31 July 2020 and was completed in 8 April 2023.
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07. Xi’an Olympic Sports Center
Capacity: 60,000
Location: Xi’an, China
The Olympic Sports Center is a multi-purpose sports facility located in Xi’an International Logistics & Trade Park, facing Bahe River in the west and Lishan Mountain in the east. The complex boasts one stadium and two pavilions: a 60,000-seat main stadium, a 18,000-seat gymnasium and a 4,000-seat aquatic center. The entire structure covers a construction area of 525,000 square meters, erecting a new landmark in the city as well as a new benchmark for recreation, sports and entertainment in Northwest China.
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06. Haixia Olympic Center
Capacity: 59,562
Location: Fuzhou, China
The Cross-Straits Olympic Sports Centre is a sports complex with a multi-purpose stadium named Cross-Straits Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Fuzhou, China. Opened in 2015. The complex comprises an indoor arena with a capacity of 12,980 spectators, an aquatics center with a capacity of 3,978 spectators and a tennis stadium with a capacity of 3,152 spectators. Additionally, a municipal sports school will also be built within the complex grounds featuring training halls for indoor sports, swimming pools, a shooting range, an archery field and a beach volleyball stadium.
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05. Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre
Capacity: 60,334
Location: Guangdong, China
Being designed for the 26th Summer World University Games in 2011, the Universiade Sports Center in Shenzhen, China, is a building complex consisting of a stadium, a multifunctional hall, a swimming hall and an extensive landscape park. The architecture is distinguished by crystalline façade shapes, representing stability, contrary to the plants and water areas which stand for movement and development.
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04. Dalian Sports Centre Stadium
Capacity: 61,000
Location: Liaoning, China
The Dalian Sports Centre Stadium consists of major stadium, arena, tennis pitch, baseball pitch, and swimming stadium. The baseball pitch was re-fitted to football training pitch after the National Games.In 2020, Dalian Sports Centre started its renovation project, in order to meet the requirements for the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup. The stadium would be refitted to professional football pitch with the running track removed, but the project was halted later as China quit hosting the Club World Cup.
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03. Workers’ Stadium
Capacity: 68,000
Location: Beijing, China
On 4 January 2020, Workers’ Stadium was announced as a host venue for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
After finishing the 2019 season, Beijing Guoan moved its home stadium the Beijing Fengtai Stadium for three years while renovations ahead of the tournament took place. The engineering firm of the rebuild project is Beijing Construction Engineering Group.
However, on 14 May 2022, AFC announced that China would not be able to host the tournament due to the exceptional circumstances caused by the pandemic.
On 31 December 2022, the new Workers’ Stadium hosted its first event, as the New Year’s Eve party called “Embrace a New Journey – 2023 BRTV New Year’s Eve” took place in the stadium and was broadcast on Beijing Satellite TV. The renovated Workers’ Stadium opened officially on 15 April 2023, which included the opening ceremony of the 2023 Chinese Super League, prior to the opening match of its season between Beijing Guoan and Meizhou Hakka.
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02. Hangzhou Olympic Sports Expo Center
Capacity: 80,000
Location: Hangzhou, China
Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium, commonly known as Big Lotus, is a stadium located in Hangzhou Olympic Sports Expo Center.
It was completed in 2018 and it is used mostly for soccer matches. The stadium was designed with a capacity of 80,000 spectators.
The stadium is built by NBBJ in partnership with CCDI. The stadium is built on a site consisting of 61,000 square meters (660,000 sq ft) on the Qiantang riverfront, opposite Hangzhou’s Qianjiang New City Central Business District. Hangzhou is scheduled to host the 2022 Asian Games, with the men’s football Final and the 2022 Asian Para Games in September–October 2023.
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01. Beijing National Stadium
Capacity: 80,000 (91,000 With temporary seats)
Location: Beijing, China
Located at the Olympic Green, the stadium cost US$428 million. The design was awarded to a submission from the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron in April 2003 after a bidding process that included 13 final submissions. The design, which originated from the study of Chinese ceramics, implemented steel beams in order to hide supports for the retractable roof; giving the stadium the appearance of a bird’s nest. Leading Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was the artistic consultant on the project. The retractable roof was later removed from the design after inspiring the stadium’s most recognizable aspect. Ground was broken on 24 December 2003 and the stadium officially opened on 28 June 2008. A shopping mall and a hotel are planned to be constructed to increase use of the stadium, which has had trouble attracting events, football and otherwise, after the Olympics.
China’s commitment to football is not only evident in its growing passion for the sport but also in the breathtaking stadiums that dot its landscape. These architectural wonders not only serve as venues for thrilling football matches but also stand as testaments to China’s ability to seamlessly blend tradition with innovation. As football continues to capture the hearts of millions in China, these beautiful stadiums will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the nation’s sporting legacy.
