Yesterday, on the 55th plenary of the Guangzhou Municipal Standing Committee of the NPC, a proposal to build a large professional football arena near the Guangzhou South Station by 2020 was approved.

News of the building of such a professional football stadium has attracted much attention. Before the location was finally determined, many districts including Liwan, Huadu, Panyu, Nansha and Zengcheng had applied for it. After two years of discussions, Panyu district was finally announced to be the new location with an area of 15.94 hectare.

In the near future, Guangzhou Municipal government will release the full details of the project. It means Guangzhou will become the fourth city to own a professional football stadium after Shanghai, Tianjin and Chengdu cities.

As well as this, the government plans to add up 135 public sports facilities in the city. It is expected that football fans will be able to watch soccer in the new professional football venue within four years.

Proofread by Sean O Diobhilin