| Country | China |
|---|---|
| Sport | Association football |
| Promotion and relegation | Yes |
| National system | |
| Federation | Chinese Football Association |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Top division |
|
| Second division |
|
| Cup competition | |
| Association football in China | |
The Chinese football league system or Chinese football league pyramid, refers to the hierarchically interconnected league system for the Chinese Football Association (CFA) that currently consists of 8 tiers with 29 individual leagues, in a series of partially interconnected leagues that are bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation.[1]
A significant feature of the system is that clubs who succeed in the various CFA cup competitions can be promoted multiple times in one season.[citation needed]
By the "Notice of the General Office of the State Council on the Issuance of the General Plan for the Reform and Development of Football in China"[2] dated 8 March 2015, the CFA has set a target of an eight-level league system, which is scheduled to be realised by 2030:
1. CFA Super League
2. CFA China League
3. CFA Division Two League
4. CFA Member Association Champions League Finals
5. CFA Member Association Champions League Regional Competitions
6. Leagues of CFA member associations
7. Leagues of city-level associations (include prefecture-level and county-level cities)
8. Leagues of county-level associations (include counties and autonomous counties)
The target has principally followed the proposed structure in its implementation.