Top 10 Most Popular Sports in China

Chinese people are hardworking and active, so it is no wonder they are interested in various sports.

If you roam around the country, you will see them playing almost all sports. From children to adults, everyone takes part.

But not all sports are popular across the country. The top 10 most popular sports in China include a variety of sports. They are popular among everyone in all parts of the country.

Let’s not keep you waiting for long. Some of the sports will surprise you for sure.

Top 10 Most Popular Sports in China

1. Basketball in China

Basketball is undoubtedly the most popular sport in China. It is enjoyed by both young children and adults.

Why is basketball so popular here? We already mentioned that Chinese people are very active and hardworking, so it makes sense that basketball is their favorite sport.

Basketball has a long history in China. It was introduced to the country in the 1890s. The game became very popular among young people as it requires intense physical performance. With the increased popularity, an association for basketball became necessary.

The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) was established in 1984. It acts as the governing body for basketball in China, organizes different leagues, and intends to promote the game more. Yao Ming, a former basketball player, became a household name in the 1990s.

Yao Ming was a great player, and his popularity crossed the border and reached the United States. Ming played in the NBA for the Houston Rockets.

Ming became the greatest Chinese basketball player ever and helped elevate the sport’s popularity in China.

Today, China has the largest basketball fan base. Their own league, the CBA, has become highly competitive. Chinese basketball players have also grown a reputation for being good players.

2. Table Tennis

At number two, we have table tennis. Do you watch the Olympics? If so, you surely know some Chinese table tennis players. The game was added to the Olympics in 1988. Since then, China has been the most dominant force in the event.

So far, thirty-two gold medals have been distributed in the event. And how many of them did China win? Twenty-eight. Shocking, right?

But everyone has gotten used to it. There is a reason behind it. China holds the number one position in terms of the sport’s popularity.

Let’s start from the beginning. Table tennis, also called ping-pong, spread in China in the 1920s. It was not a local sport; rather, the missionaries introduced the Chinese to it.

Ironically, when the Chinese people began to play the game, they quickly became skilled in it.

Table tennis became a national obsession in China during the 1950s. Everyone enjoyed playing the game, but the need for quick response and reflexes made it challenging, and people loved challenges.

You must have heard the name Chairman Mao Zedong, haven’t you? He also promoted the game throughout China. No wonder it became a national obsession overnight.

Zedong envisioned table tennis as a way to showcase the strength of the Chinese people and promote Chinese culture on the global stage.

Standing in 2023, you cannot argue over Zedon’s idea. Under Zedong’s leadership, many training facilities were built throughout the country. Since then, they have become the undisputed champion of the sport.

3. Badminton

Badminton is number three among the top 10 most popular sports in China. China has been playing the game since the 1930s.

Like basketball and table tennis, badminton is not a local game in China. So, how did it appear to the country?

The British military deserves credit for introducing badminton to China. They used to play badminton in their free time, and quickly, the strange game captivated the Chinese. It became a part of Chinese culture towards the end of the 1930s.

After China’s independence, its popularity grew very fast. Many training institutions were built for the game.

China’s badminton program continued to thrive in the 1970s and 1980s. It has produced some of the best players in badminton’s history.

The Olympics included badminton in the event in 1992. And no nation has been as dominant as China. They have won 41 medals so far, including twenty gold medals. China dominates the game in both men’s and women’s competitions.

China’s success in badminton has made the game more popular, and the country is proud of its dominance.

4. Football (Soccer)

You were looking for it, weren’t you? Here it is. The most popular sport in the world is also popular in China. Like the previous sports, soccer, and football were not invented in China. They adopted the sport from England.

Football was born in 1863 and introduced to China in the late 19th century. The first match was played in China in 1867 between British sailors and local Chinese workers.

However, the game did not gain much popularity then.

The first national Chinese football team was formed in 1924. The team found some initial success. However, due to political and social issues, the spread of football became limited in China. A lack of investment was also a major reason.

In recent years, China has been focusing on improving its football reputation.

It is trying to form a stronger national team, investing heavily in infrastructure, building new stadiums and training facilities, hiring high-profile coaches, and importing foreign players to improve the level of play.

Despite all the investment and efforts, they are still struggling. You can see why. Other countries have been focusing on the sport for a long time.

Compared to them, China has only just started. One day, there is a high chance that they will dominate football as much as table tennis.

5. Martial Arts

You were expecting this, weren’t you? Well, here it is. Martial arts are an important part of Chinese culture. They combine physical and mental techniques to make the body strong, flexible, and agile.

Chinese people are obsessed with martial arts. In ancient times, Chinese warriors learned them as a mandatory skill, and it has been their tradition to learn martial arts ever since.

The Olympics adopted martial arts in 1964; since then, it has been a regular tournament event.

How is China doing in this event? You can guess that it is one of the most successful nations in martial arts. So far, it has won twelve medals, including four gold medals.

6. Volleyball

Volleyball is one of the most popular sports in China. It was introduced in the early twentieth century, but the game did not gain much popularity until the 1950s.

In 1951, the Chinese Volleyball Association was established.

Soon, the association established a national volleyball league, and the game started getting attention. The national team of China became very dominant during the 1960s and 1970s, which made people more interested in Volleyball.

China has continued its legacy in the sport. During the 1980s, it focused on building a strong women’s team, which has won gold medals in the Olympics.

Chinese volleyball teams have also performed well in other international competitions. They won the World Cup and World Championships multiple times.

With all this success, their popularity is increasing daily. They are holding sixth place among the top 10 most popular sports in China.

7. Running

Running is another very popular sport in China. It has been a part of their lifestyle since God knows when. However,  it became a sport only in the mid-twentieth century. Running in China is not as easy as it is in Western Countries.

The weather and the dense population make running quite a challenge in China. The government of China always encourages people to take part in sports.

China’s performance in the Olympics in the running is very impressive. They have won 11 gold medals so far. However, China’s performance in the running event has declined in recent years compared to its previous records.

8. Yoga

What? Yoga? Why is it on the list? Is that even a sport? Well, it may not be a sport in other countries, but in China, it is a sport, and it is a very popular one, too.

Yoga is a very popular form of exercise in China. Although it has been practiced in China since ancient times, the modern version of yoga started in the 1980s, during which time the first yoga teacher training program was established in China.

The China Yoga Association was established in 1992, and modern yoga has started gaining popularity since then.

The government of China is also backing yoga. They have declared June 21 as National Yoga Day. Today, there are many yoga training institutions in China, and they are full of learners.

9. Snooker

Nope, there is no typo. Snooker is a sport; maybe you haven’t heard of it. It is also a relatively new sport in China, but its popularity is growing rapidly. Okay, let’s tell you what the game is first.

Have you played pool? At least the mobile game “8 ball pool?” Snooker is similar to pool in many ways.

Both snooker and pool are cue games played on a board with pockets. However, the snooker table is smaller. The pool has 15 balls, while the snooker has 21.

Snooker has been played in China since the 1980s. The first snooker club was established in the city of Shenzhen. Like many other sports, the people of China mastered the game very quickly.

A decade later, they began to win international tournaments, and the game’s popularity increased.

Ding Junhui is one of the most successful snooker players from China. He has won several ranking events, including the U.K. Championship and the World Open.

Lately, the government of China has also backed the sport.

10. Bicycling

When you ride your bicycle, that is not a sport. But when you are competing with your buddies, that is a sport.

And this support is quite popular among the Chinese people. How did it start in the country? Like some other countries, European missionaries get the credit once again.

The cycle became a popular mode of transport in the 1930s. A few decades later, the Chinese government also promoted bicycles as a form of transport.

Soon, different bicycling competitions were held across the country, and bicycling began to become popular.

The Olympics added a bicycling event in 1984. China won 31 medals in the event, including nine gold medals. The success in the Olympics motivated more people to get into the sport.

Conclusion

You must have noticed that most popular sports in China require intense physical and mental ability. It is a sign of their activeness.

The top 10 most popular sports in China are a way for them to maintain a healthy life for common people, while some take them as opportunities to make their nation proud.