The Chinese Super League was a hot topic of conversation five to ten years ago. Attracting the biggest stars from the beautiful game, offering outlandish wages and incentives to bring the very best to the country. With all the money and all the attention globally, the Chinese Super League still has not been the success it once tried to become.

There is a different variation of football in China that has captured the imagination and is bringing in thousands of fans from around the country to the games. Somewhat surprisingly, this viral football league is completely amateur. Yes, an unpaid, non-professional football league is the next big event in Chinese football. This is the Chinese Village Super League.

Where and what?

Now, it is forgivable if you have not heard of this before, but once you look online and on YouTube, you will come to question how you haven’t seen this event before. Incredible atmospheres, packed out crowds and a carnival environment are bringing worldwide attention to the league.

Most commonly found in the Guizhou province of China, the event itself isn’t even easily accessible, but it still brings success. The competing villages are often several hours from each other, which becomes so much more difficult when the roads are mountain passes. This is particularly difficult for the spectators who travel from the provincial capital of Guiyang. Often driving for 3 hours to reach the location. Locally based people, or people who live relatively nearby, have been said to hike through the mountains for a couple of hours to reach the event.

Financial Benefits

The popularity of this event has turned the tide for the province. Guizhou itself was one of the last places in China to be officially declared free of extreme poverty, and a lot of this can be related to the Village Super League.

Wages in the area were very low, with living comforts not much better. But, looking at the statistics, the recent turnarounds cannot be overlooked. Since the sudden success of the Village Super League, over 4,000 new businesses have registered in the region amidst the popularity of the event. Countless hotels and restaurants have opened, and the number of people expanding their farming production has grown immeasurably.

The new businesses and farming expansions have brought with them countless job opportunities for the area, boosting the local economy greatly. In the last year itself, the revenue from the tourist industry has hiked nearly 75%.

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Who plays?

The whole extravaganza can be described as a celebration of local pride. Teams consist of local members of the public who work in the area. Shopkeepers can be strikers, farmers can be goalkeepers, and chefs can be managers. A completely amateur event, but one that celebrates with the atmosphere of a World Cup.

In the 2025 edition of the Village Super League, 108 teams from the province are competing, with an expected 3,000 people expected to be in attendance. The latest format of the Village Super League came into existence in 2023, which shows how quickly and how incredible the surge in success and viewership is. The event is close to reaching 100 billion views across all platforms, an incredible figure for an event the majority of people have not even heard of.

The football can often be overlooked at these events. Often, people visit the event just to soak up the atmosphere. Guizhou is a football crazy area. One look online, though, and you can begin to understand why people may miss the football and decide to visit for the event alone.

Bringing people together

The event is garnished in local culture. Performances of traditional dance and carnival take place on the pitches before the games. The carnival atmosphere continues during the game with people all dressed in cultural attire, music playing all around, with local food stalls popping up around the grounds.

It is no wonder that the event is bringing thousands of tourists to the area and bringing in millions financially for the local area. The area hasn’t suddenly become rich, but the way of living has vastly improved in the last couple of years.

Perhaps the league could expand further in an attempt to bring in more income, but that is not what this is about. All players are unpaid, but winning teams can win prizes. Instead of monetary prizes, teams compete for livestock such as cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry, to keep the event linked to its rural and regional traditions.

A celebration of sport and tradition

From start to finish, the whole event is a celebration of culture and sport. Before the event, the party atmosphere builds, and during the game, the atmosphere reaches its climax. Unlike other events, though, after the games, whether your team has won or lost, the carnival doesn’t stop. A great example of this is the Village Super League event in Dongmen village. Post-game, locals and visitors line the streets to attend the outdoor banquet, which runs down the main street.

A celebration of culture and a unique event that brings people together. The game itself brings in no financial gain for players or locals, but the surge in popularity has brought increased wealth to the area. The event itself is free to attend, but the revenue for local businesses is why the event is so successful. Win or lose, every player is treated as a celebrity, with people celebrating their participation in their efforts to bring local pride to their home villages.

The Chinese Village Super League, a showcase of sport, culture and tradition. An event you won’t see anywhere else, but one you should at least look online for if you can’t get there yourself. Amateur football in a World Cup final environment, the beautiful game delivers once again.

Written and Researched by BSc Cavan Campbell

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