Yanji Nationwide Fitness Centre Stadium

Yanji Nationwide Fitness Centre Stadium replaced the old Yanji People's Stadium, which was demolished to make way for the current complex. The ground serves multiple purposes, giving the place a particular lightness; the stands are open and airy, and the roof curves dramatically over the seating, but there is no feeling of enclosure that other grounds in the region possess.

On match days, the atmosphere is driven by the local Korean-Chinese community, a fact visible in the crowds that fill the green seats. The pitch is natural grass, kept in good condition, though the weather often plays a part in the game. Visitors notice the proximity to the airport; planes are frequently seen crossing the sky above the stands, adding a layer of noise that the local supporters have learned to ignore. The scoreboard is large and modern, displaying information in both Chinese characters and English, a practical choice for a city on the border.

Football has been a secondary occupation for this place since it opened in 2013. Yanbian Funde FC used the ground for their time in the Chinese Super League, drawing crowds that were significant for a city of this size. The club folded after two seasons, leaving the stadium without its most prominent tenant for a while. Yanbian Longding FC took over the space, using it as a base for their campaigns in the second tier. The capacity is 30,000, but the number feels larger when the stands are full, because the seating is arranged in a way that brings the fans closer to the action than is common in newer Chinese stadiums.

There is no official website for the venue, and the management is handled by the local sports bureau. This makes it feel more like a public facility than a commercial product. The ground has hosted the opening ceremony for the National Games of China, which explains the elaborate staging equipment visible on the sidelines during non-match events. For a regular football fan, however, the interest lies in the local derby matches and the support from the stands, which remain vocal despite the lack of international attention.