2025 National Youth Men's Field Hockey Championship was held in Yunfu in March.
Yunfu was a name few in China associated with sports—let alone with field hockey, a game better known in Europe and South Asia. But that perception is rapidly changing. This fall, the city in western Guangdong will host the field hockey competitions of China’s 15th National Games, a milestone moment for a place rewriting its athletic identity.
The transformation didn’t happen overnight.
Yunfu boasts top-notch hockey fields in China
Yunfu Education Park Hockey Field (云浮市曲棍球场)
Yunfu’s field hockey journey began in 2001 with a training program at a rural school in Gao Village. With little funding but boundless enthusiasm, coaches introduced the sport to fewer than 60 students. Two decades later, over 2,300 athletes are registered in the city—accounting for more than half of all hockey players in Guangdong Province. From that unlikely foundation, Yunfu has grown into a national stronghold.
At the center of this success is infrastructure. The city now boasts three FIH-standard pitches, including Yunfu Education Park Hockey Field (云浮市曲棍球场) which is the first FIH Category 1 field in Guangdong and the seventh of this kind in China. Located on the campus of Yunfu Vocational School, the stadium meets the highest standards of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and is designed to host top-level international competitions.
The two additional fields at Yunfu Sports Park—both FIH Global certified since 2021—serve as training venues for the upcoming National Games and year-round national team camps. These fields, paired with Yunfu’s mild winters, have made the city a favorite training base for top northern teams.
Yunfu is one of China's four major field hockey hubs alongside Moqi in Inner Mongolia, Changzhou in Jiangsu, and Hangzhou. It is the most suitable location for winter training. Every year, the national men's and women's field hockey teams, along with teams from northern provinces such as Jilin and Liaoning, come here for their winter training. China’s national women’s team has spent four consecutive winters in Yunfu, including their preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics, where they secured a silver medal.
Yunfu nurtures national hockey stars
Hockey training launched at Yunfu Vocational School
Yunfu boasts a hockey training system covering from elementary school to elite teams. At Hengda School, 85 student-athletes train year-round. The Yunfu City Central Sports School （云浮市中心体校）which has been recognized as a national field hockey Olympic reserve talent base has a total of 5 field hockey coaches, including 1 national-level coach.
The Yunfu City field hockey team has proudly represented Guangdong in national competitions, securing nine National Youth Championships and ten Provincial titles. The team has developed four national team players, three junior players, ten youth players, and has contributed to the development of twenty-two players for Guangdong and fourteen for other provinces.
Yunfu’s influence has extended to national rosters. It has produced former national women’s captain Cui Qiuxia (Olympian in Rio and Tokyo), and current men’s captain Chen Qijun, along with dozens of players now competing at provincial and national levels. At the 14th National Games, five Yunfu-born players helped Guangdong secure the men’s hockey title.
Hosting the 15th National Games is both validation and acceleration. A comprehensive “Hockey City” action plan is now underway, encompassing public participation, coaching development, and athlete pipelines. As the spotlight turns to Yunfu this fall, the city isn’t just preparing to host a tournament. It’s preparing to redefine how small cities can lead in national sport.
Reported by Yin Juewen
Photo provided by 云浮市融媒体中心
Guangdong University of Foreign Studies also contributed to the story.