Chinese football league system
The Chinese football league system or Chinese football league pyramid, refers to the hierarchically interconnected league system for the Chinese Football Association that currently consists of 8 tiers with 29 individual leagues, in a series of partially interconnected leagues that are bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation.
A significant feature of the system is that clubs who succeed in the various CFA cup competitions can be promoted multiple times in one season.
By the "Notice of the General Office of the State Council on the Issuance of the General Plan for the Reform and Development of Football in China" dated 8 March 2015, the CFA has set a target of an eight-level league system, which is scheduled to be realised by 2030:Professional levels
1. CFA Super League
2. CFA China League
3. CFA Division Two LeagueAmateur levels
4. CFA Member Association Champions League Finals
5. CFA Member Association Champions League Regional Competitions
6. Leagues of CFA member associations
7. Leagues of city-level associations
8. Leagues of county-level associations
The target has principally followed the proposed structure in its implementation.
Men's system
The top 3 tiers are nationwide professional competitions, Super League, China League, Division Two League, have promotion and relegation between the leagues.The hierarchical system continues and levels have progressively more parallel divisions, which each cover progressively smaller geographic areas. 50 CFA Member Associations organise different forms of competitions and 22 of them organise regular leagues, which locate from tier 4 of the system. Only Zhejiang Super League has feeder leagues.
CFA Member Association Champions League, is the amateur football finals each season, involving 64 teams from across the country. All teams registered with CFA member associations are required to gain access to the CFA Member Association Champions League in various ways, including participating and winning in leagues organised by the member association. This is the only way to enter top 3 tiers and be a part of the professional system.
Women's system
The three levels of women's football are structured as follows:| Level | Leagues |
| 1 | CFA Women's Super League '' 12 clubs ↓ 1 relegation playoff spot |
| 2 | CFA Women's League 12 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots + 1 promotion playoff spot |
| 3 | CFA Women's Division 2 League 24 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots |