Tangxi High School's soccer team plays at the Zhejiang Provincial City Football League. [Photo/Tide News]
Tangxi High School has gained recognition for its soccer team, bringing fame to Tangxi town in Jinhua, Zhejiang province.
In the recent China Highschool Football League National Finals, Tangxi High School clinched the sixth position, marking the best performance by a Zhejiang high school boys' team in the competition. At the Zhejiang Provincial City Football League, of the 60 players in the champion Jinhua team, 17 are current or former students of the school, with seven current students as core players.
So, how did a rural high school become a cradle for soccer talent? Tangxi High School has developed a unique approach, balancing training with academics.
"Our goal isn't just to win championships but to open more doors for our students," said Chen Jianchao, Party secretary of the school. Each soccer talent receives a tailored growth plan, with sports classes led by PE teachers who coordinate with other teachers to ensure academic progress alongside athletic development.
Over the past decade, the school has won 15 city-level and three provincial-level championships.
The "Tangxi phenomenon" reflects Jinhua's two-decade dedication to campus soccer, resulting in 185 schools at the national level and 58 at the provincial level becoming known for their soccer programs.
The city's league system, with over 1,200 matches annually at present and involving over 100,000 students, integrates sports into campus life, fostering both education and elite training pathways.
