Joshua Chapman

Upon first glance, China’s sports culture might appear to be all but nonexistent, but upon closer examination we see that, although sports are less evident in day to day life, there is still much for sports fans to find and enjoy in China. However, if you do wish to experience sports in this country, you will have to change your perspectives on how to appreciate them.

If you are looking for fan filled bars, rowdy downtown parties, or in-your-face sports more familiar in the west, you will unfortunately find China very lacking. This does not mean Chinese people are not engaged in sports, it just means they are consumed in a different way. In China there seems to be a more heavy focus on playing a sport, than following a team. Anyone who has lived in a Chinese city will be familiar with the sight of people of all ages square dancing in the streets, playing badminton in the park, or playing basketball at the local school campus. It might be a rare occurrence to see a team jersey in this country, but the people’s love for sports and exercise is very evident here at any time of year.

With this kind of sporting aside, if you are in China and interested in getting engaged in following a sports league, there are options here for you. China has a popular domestic basketball and football (soccer) league with teams in most major cities. For a fairly reasonable price you can watch these events live in stadiums across the country. If you prefer to follow an international league you can join the multitude of Chinese fans who keep up to date with leagues like the NBA or English Premier League online, on television, or at a local expat bar.

So if you are planning on coming to China and you are worried about your passion for sports, you can rest easy. It may not be what you are used to, but there is more than enough in this country to keep your love of sports sated, and you might just make some Chinese friends who are just as avid as you are.