In 1926, a dirt football field at the foot of Yuexiu Mountain was officially put into use.
A hundred years later, the lights of Yuexiu Mountain Stadium lit up as the Guangdong Super League (GSL) opening match was about to begin. The eight words, “One battle to name the city, battle in Guangdong with courage,” opened a new chapter in the mountain’s story.
The field had new turf, and seats had grown on the stands. The whistle was about to blow, and the entire mountain held its breath.
The Golden Age, Hidden in a String of Shining Names
Going to watch a match at Yuexiu Mountain Stadium is known by locals as “going up the mountain to watch the ball.”
The stadium is actually located in a valley of Yuexiu Mountain. This natural, bowl-shaped field, built along the terrain, is the “cornucopia” of Guangdong football.
Starting from the 1950s, generations of players emerged from here, and one battle after another unfolded here.
The cheers in the valley never stopped. Some names were called out repeatedly, and over time, they became legends.
Su Yongshun, a coach from Guangzhou. He designed a short-pass training drill for the Guangdong team involving three players interchanging positions within 15 meters, allowing players to build tacit understanding through quick passing and receiving.
In 1975, the Guangdong team won the National Games championship for the first time. The “fast, accurate, and agile” style of Southern School football was shaped under his guidance.
During the same period, fans in the stands of Yuexiu Mountain began to repeatedly call out another name—Rong Zhixing.
He was originally from Taishan, Jiangmen, and practiced football at Baogang Stadium as a youth. In his 18-year career, he never received a single yellow or red card.
During one match, he dribbled into the penalty area, and two opposing defenders collided and fell. Facing an open goal, he voluntarily stopped, reached out to help his opponents up. The crowd was stunned for a moment, then burst into applause.
In 1978, the newspaper Sports News first used the term “Zhixing Style” to summarize his sportsmanship and character. Pelé gifted him a No. 10 jersey, calling him “world-class.”
At the 2025 National Games, the 77-year-old once again climbed Yuexiu Mountain as a torchbearer.
Almost at the same time as Rong Zhixing, there was another person. He was only 1.62 meters tall and almost didn’t get to play football. Coach Luo Rongman slammed the table and said, “Keep him.”
In 1984, he came off the bench and scored the winning goal against the Argentine team. From then on, the name “Short-Legged Tiger” Zhao Dayu resounded through Yuexiu Mountain.
After retiring, Zhao Dayu founded Yida Football School, passing the torch of Southern School football to the next generation.
Fast forward in time. In 1994, the first year of the Chinese Jia-A League, Peng Weiguo won the Golden Ball and Hu Zhijun won the Golden Boot. On the stands of Yuexiu Mountain, locals shouted until their voices were hoarse.
Those were the proudest football days for Guangzhou. After ups and downs, the passion remains.
On April 25th, another Guangzhou team will step onto Yuexiu Mountain.
40 players, none worth tens of millions. They are teachers, students, auxiliary police officers—your neighbors, colleagues, children’s teachers.
Xie Changjing, chairman of the Guangdong Football Association, said: “The passion of these ordinary people is a warmth that no professional league can replace.”
The valley has welcomed generation after generation, and now it awaits new cheers.
One Mountain, the Football Center for Generations
Why does this mountain make generation after generation remember it? The story begins over a hundred years ago.
In 1907, a huge explosion at the gunpowder depot at the foot of Yuexiu Mountain created a deep pit.
But the people of Guangzhou are pragmatic. The pit was ready-made, and the hillside was a natural stand—why not use it? So, it became a dirt football field, called Guanyin Mountain Football Field.
In 1926, this field was officially
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