Players enter the soccer field at Shenzhen Technology University before the opening match of the fourth Shenzhen Subdistrict Soccer Super League on Aug. 29. Photos from the organizers

The fourth Shenzhen Subdistrict Soccer Super League, also known as Shenzhen Jiechao, kicked off Aug. 29 at Shenzhen Technology University in Pingshan District. The opening match featured Biling and Kengzi subdistricts of Pingshan. The four competition zones in Pingshan, Nanshan, Bao’an and Longgang districts then got underway simultaneously.

Biling dominated the opening match. Several of its players have previously competed in the Guangdong Soccer Super League, also known as Yuechao. After the game, player Tian Bang said that representing his subdistrict gave him “a special sense of belonging and heartfelt honor.”

The event featured lion dances, tai chi and street dance performances, highlighting Pingshan’s vibrant sports and fitness culture and the league’s role in promoting the integrated development of mass sports across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. At halftime, young players took the field for a youth exhibition match, demonstrating the league’s commitment to grassroots talent development in Pingshan.

Players compete during the opening match on Aug. 29. 

Local enterprises, including BYD and Honor, participated in the event alongside merchants and industry associations. A newly launched digital sports platform, “皆超,” links the tournament with dining, accommodation, travel, shopping and entertainment, helping turn the event into a catalyst for the integration of consumption, culture and tourism.

Launched in Pingshan and now held citywide, the Shenzhen Subdistrict Soccer Super League is a homegrown sports brand that brings soccer into neighborhoods and everyday life. The tournament will continue with more matches, aiming to unite communities and support Shenzhen’s efforts to become a national sports powerhouse.

Scenes from the opening match on Aug. 29.