Lijiang Dongba F.C. Football Club

Lijiang Dongba Football Club (丽江东巴足球俱乐部), established in February 2004, was the first professional football club in Lijiang, Yunnan Province. It was jointly funded by seven local enterprises, with the club participating in China’s League Two (中国足球乙级联赛). The club’s home ground was Lijiang Sports Stadium (丽江市体育场), a stadium with a seating capacity of 15,000, and its training base was located at the foot of the Yulong Snow Mountain (玉龙雪山). The club was dissolved at the end of 2006, marking the close of Lijiang’s golden era in professional football (2004-2018).

Establishment and History

Formation and Background

Date of Establishment: February 5, 2004, with an initial investment of 8 million yuan from seven local enterprises including Yunnan Heibai Hydropower Group (云南黑白水电力集团) and Lijiang Yulong Tourism Company (丽江玉龙旅游公司).

Predecessor: The club took over the Yunnan Hongta Reserves (云南红塔预备队) as its foundation. The head coach was You Kewei (尤可为), and the initial roster consisted of 15 players from the reserves.

Dissolution and Reasons

Disbandment: The club was disbanded in 2006 due to three consecutive failed attempts to gain promotion to League One (中国足球甲级联赛) and financial constraints.

Performance and Home Stadium

2004 Season Highlights

Debut Season: In its first season, the team won 4-0 in their opening match, finishing third in the Southern Zone of League Two, earning a spot in the national finals, where they secured third place.

2005-2006 Seasons

The team reached the finals in both 2005 and 2006, but was eliminated in the quarter-finals each time.

Home Stadium and Audience

Lijiang Sports Stadium (海拔2300米), situated at 2300 meters above sea level, was renowned as “the best home stadium in League Two”. With a capacity of 15,000 seats, the stadium saw an average attendance of 15,000 spectators per match.

Team Characteristics and Cultural Impact

Training Base

The team’s training base was located at the foot of the iconic Yulong Snow Mountain (玉龙雪山), allowing players to train in a challenging high-altitude environment.

Fan Culture

On matchdays, Lijiang transformed into a festive atmosphere, with fans showing immense enthusiasm for the team. Some fans even voluntarily paid the transportation costs for journalists, highlighting their passionate support.

Legacy

Dongba FC marked the start of Lijiang’s professional football golden era (2004-2018). Even after the club’s dissolution, Jiayunhao FC (嘉云昊队) continued its spirit and furthered the development of professional football in the region.

Associated Organizations and Current Status

Dongba National Youth Sports Club

Founded in 2002, this youth development organization continued the club’s commitment to football youth training, with Yang Zhuhong (杨竹红) as its legal representative.

Lijiang Flying Tigers

Lijiang Flying Tigers (丽江飞虎队) won the League Two championship in 2016 and advanced to League One, symbolizing a major comeback for Lijiang’s professional football after the dissolution of Dongba FC.

Lijiang: The Hometown of Football

Football Culture in Lijiang

Lijiang (丽江), often referred to as the “Hometown of Football” (足球之乡), has a long-standing football tradition. This culture can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty, when Naxi poet Mu Gong (木公) mentioned “cuju” (蹴鞠), an ancient form of ball game, in his poetry. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, local residents engaged in football exchanges with the American military stationed in Lijiang. By the Republic of China era, football teams were formed, and football fields began to be established.

Development After the Founding of New China

1970s: Nearly half of the communes in Lijiang established village football teams, contributing to the spread of football throughout the region.

Reform and Opening-up: Football became a multi-dimensional activity, with participation from various sectors including official bodies, schools, enterprises, and communities.

2000s: Lijiang accelerated the construction of football fields, and by 2024, there were 276 football fields, with 2.2 fields per 10,000 people. This paved the way for a new era of youth football development in the city.

Professional Football Golden Era (2004-2018)

2004 marked the emergence of professional football in Lijiang with the founding of Dongba FC. The team achieved third place in League Two the same year.

2016: Lijiang Flying Tigers FC won the League Two championship and promoted to League One, achieving the first professional league title in Yunnan’s football history.

Football Youth Development

Lijiang Football School has become a crucial institution for nurturing youth football talent. Over the years, the school has trained numerous skilled players, many of whom have moved on to play professionally.

Yuanheng Football Club (源亨足球俱乐部) has trained over 2,000 young players in a short span of time, producing 49 national-level athletes.

The Future of Football in Lijiang

Reorganization of Professional Football

In 2025, Lijiang plans to reorganize a League Two team, with a focus on developing local talent through youth training programs. The goal is to continue the professional football tradition in Lijiang, creating a pathway for homegrown players to succeed in the future.

Integration of Football with Local Culture

Events such as the Tianyu Liufang Cup (天雨流芳杯) help integrate football with ethnic culture, fostering a closer relationship between sports and tourism in the region, and contributing to local economic development.

Lijiang Dongba FC laid the foundation for Lijiang’s professional football in the 2004-2018 golden era. Despite its dissolution, the club’s legacy remains an essential part of the city’s sporting history. With ongoing youth development programs and a commitment to local talent, Lijiang is set to continue its football legacy as a prominent hub for football in Yunnan Province.