Xiangchao concludes with Yongzhou claiming championship

The 2025 Hunan City Soccer League, popularly known as the "Xiangchao", concluded on a high note Saturday evening with a thrilling final at the Helong Sports Center in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province.

In a tightly contested match attended by 43,695 spectators, the Yongzhou team defeated the Changde team 1-0 to claim the championship trophy, capping off a tournament celebrated for its grassroots sporting spirit and profound impact on the province's economy.

The decisive moment of the match came in the 58th minute, when Yongzhou's No 46, Gu Wenjie, broke the deadlock with a crucial goal, securing the narrow victory for his team.

Yongzhou's journey to championship glory began at a venue locals affectionately called the "wild pitch" — the city's crumbling, decades-old stadium.