On the evening of September 13, the regular season match of the 2025 Hunan Provincial Football League (Hengyang Team vs. Zhuzhou Team) officially kicked off at Hengyang Sports Center. Liu Yuegao, Secretary of the CPC Hengyang Municipal Committee, Song Zheng, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of the Hunan Branch of the China Development Bank, and Zhu Jian, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hengyang Municipal Committee and Mayor, attended and watched the match on site.

That night, Hengyang Sports Center was packed with enthusiastic spectators. Prior to the match, performances showcasing scenic attractions such as Youth Dongzhou Island and Jianxiang Industrial Cultural Block vividly presented Hengyang’s vitality under the development strategy of “Strengthen the City through Manufacturing, Revitalize it through Culture and Tourism.” Dragon and lion dances, martial arts, and intangible cultural heritage performances including Drums of Inspiration, Flourishing under Foot, and Hengyang Battle Song created a festive atmosphere and ignited excitement for the opening game.

As the match began, players from Hengyang and Zhuzhou entered the pitch carrying their respective banners, officially launching an exciting contest with football as the bridge of friendship and competition. This was the first home match for Hengyang in the league. Both teams adopted the 4-2-3-1 formation and engaged in fierce competition throughout the game. After a hard-fought battle, Zhuzhou edged Hengyang with a 3–2 victory. The match not only tested the players’ skills and stamina but also demonstrated their indomitable spirit and fighting will.

From September to December, the “Xiangchao” League will be held across all 14 cities and prefectures in Hunan Province. The league consists of two stages: the regular season and the knockout stage, lasting 17 weeks with a total of 98 matches, played on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Each round is staggered to ensure broad participation. The regular season follows a single round-robin format with 13 rounds, where each team plays either 7 home and 6 away matches, or 6 home and 7 away matches. The top eight teams from the regular season will advance to the knockout stage.

Also attending and watching the match were Chen Bin, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Hunan Provincial Sports Bureau; Tan Ou, Deputy Secretary of the Party Branch of the Hunan Football Association; as well as municipal leaders Liu Zhengxing, Wu Shuguang, Zhou Yumei, Chen Liyang, Zou Zhihe, Xie Mingfang, Liu Zhenggan, Zhong Fan, and Xie Hong.

Translator: Jing