Introduction
China is a top country for young track and field athletes. The system is deep, well-funded, and built for results. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Chinese athletes won gold in the women's 20km race walk. Su Bingtian reached the men's 100m final at the Tokyo Olympics. He came through this same school system.
These results start in sports schools. These schools train athletes from age 10. They combine athletic training with formal education. The government funds them. They follow strict national standards. For U18 athletes, they offer a clear path. That path leads to provincial teams, national teams, and major events like the Asian Youth Games.
Many international families do not know where to start. The system is large. School names, fees, and entry rules are hard to find in English. That is where ALIFA Education Services helps. They match the right school, handle visa applications, and support enrollment.
Book a free consultation with ALIFA today to find the best fit for your young athlete.
Why Focus on U18 Track & Field Schools in China?
The U18 age group is a turning point. Between the ages of 15 and 18, most athletes pick one event. They focus on sprints, shot put, long jump, pole vault, or race walking. Training gets harder. Volume goes up. Competition begins at the provincial and national levels.
This window builds China's system. Schools use a three-tier model. Municipal schools identify talent early. Provincial schools develop it further. National key bases train the best. Each level feeds the next.
The results are clear. Dongguan Sports School produced Wang Kaihua. He won the men's 20km race walk at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games.
Wenzhou Sports School sent Dai Qianqian to the 2024 Paris Olympics in javelin. Beijing Xiannongtan Sports Technology School produced Yang Jiayu. She won gold in the women's 20km race walk at those same Paris Olympics.
For U18 athletes, the competition calendar is full. Students compete at city championships, provincial youth games, and the National Youth Athletics Championships. Top athletes move on to the Asian Youth Games and Asian Athletics Championships. School-based athletes also compete at global school sports events. These include the World School Championships and World Cups run by the International School Sport Federation.
Top U18 Track & Field Schools in China
1. Beijing Xiannongtan Sports Technology School
Location: Xicheng District, Beijing
This school’s founders established it in 1956. It sits under the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports. The campus covers 168,000 square metres. It trains athletes in seven sports, including track and field.
The athletics programme focuses on sprints, hurdles, middle distance, and race walking. Coaches use AI motion capture and smart training tools. The school works with Peking University Third Hospital for sports medicine. Yang Jiayu, the 2024 Paris Olympics race walk gold medallist, trained here.
Fees:
- Tuition: Free
- Training fees: Free
- Accommodation: about 500–800 yuan per month
- Meals: about 30–50 yuan per day
- Sportswear: Free (issued by the government)
- Medical treatment for training injuries: Free
- Competition costs: Covered by the school and the Sports Bureau
Athletes must meet second-level athlete standards. They must also place in the top three at a Beijing or provincial age-group competition.
2. Competitive Sports School Affiliated to Beijing Sport University
Location: Beijing
The founders established this school in 1979. It operates under the General Administration of Sport of China. It links to Beijing Sport University without any intermediaries. Students spend half the day in class and half the day training.
The track and field programme covers sprints, long jump, shot put, and more. The school has produced 49 world champions and 105 Asian champions across all sports. Graduates have a direct path to Beijing Sport University.
Fees:
- Tuition: Free (public secondary vocational policy)
- Accommodation: about 750 yuan per academic year
- Equipment and clothing: Covered by the school at low cost
3. Dongguan Sports School
Location: Dongcheng District, Dongguan, Guangdong Province
This school is public. It sits under the Dongguan Municipal Government. It is a Guangdong Provincial training base. Track and field is a traditional strength. Coaches use video analysis and AI motion capture.
In the 2023 Guangdong Provincial Games, the school won big in track and field. They took 10 gold, 8 silver, and 7 bronze medals. Wu Ruiting (triple jump national champion) and Wang Kaihua (Asian Games race walk champion) are notable alumni.
Fees:
- Tuition: 3,940 yuan per year
- Accommodation: 500 yuan per year
- Other costs (textbooks, medical exam): 300 yuan per year
Note: Eligible students can apply for free tuition under secondary vocational policy.
4. Wenzhou Sports School
Location: Longwan District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province
They founded this school in 1956. It is one of five key sports schools in Zhejiang Province. It holds national status as a reserve talent base for throwing and jumping events.
The school has produced five Olympic champions. These include Pan Zhanle. He won the 2024 Paris Olympics men's 100m freestyle and set a world record. Dai Qianqian competed in javelin at the same Games. The athletics program covers sprints, hurdles, jumps, and throws.
Fees:
- Tuition: Free for vocational students (national policy)
- Student grant: up to 4,000 yuan for eligible students
- Accommodation: about 500–800 yuan per semester
- Training fees and meals: Covered by the school
- Personal equipment (athletics shoes): Self-purchased
5. Beijing Shichahai Sports School
Location: Shijingshan District, Beijing
They founded this school in 1975. It became a National Key High-Level Sports Reserve Talent Base in 2017. It does not run academic classes on site. Students go to regular district schools during the day. They come to the sports school for afternoon and weekend training.
The track and field programme covers sprints, relay races, long jump, and high jump. It also includes triple jump, shot put, and javelin. Sessions run 60 to 150 minutes based on the student's level.
Fees:
- Basic Class: about 3,000–5,000 yuan per semester
- Advanced Class: about 5,000–8,000 yuan per semester
- Elite Class: about 8,000–10,000 yuan per semester
- Competition costs: Partly covered by the school
- Insurance: about 100–200 yuan per year (paid by students)
Want to put your brand in front of families, students, and education-focused readers? We're inviting select partners to advertise with us on our trusted blog.
Want to get featured? submit a story for us to include.
6. Lanzhou Sports Vocational College
Location: Lanzhou, Gansu Province
They founded this school in 1984. It is a National High-Level Sports Reserve Talent Base. It has a 400-metre standard track and an indoor training hall. The affiliated Lanzhou No. 101 Middle School covers primary and junior high students. This makes it a full pipeline school from childhood to vocational level.
Notable alumni include Liang Rui, a women's race walking world champion. Gao Jing is a sprinter who broke many Gansu provincial records.
Fees:
- Secondary vocational tuition: Free (National policy)
- Lanzhou No. 101 Middle School tuition: Free during compulsory education
- Accommodation: 1,100 yuan per year
- Personal gear (spikes, sportswear): about 500–1,000 yuan per year
- Competition travel: The school covers most of the expenses.
- National scholarship for eligible students: 2,300 yuan per year
Key Comparisons – Training, Academics, and Career Paths
All six schools follow the same rule. Sports and education must be equal. Every school delivers the full national curriculum. Students sit national exams. Their credentials match any regular school.
Training quality varies by city and budget. Beijing schools have the most resources. They use AI motion capture, hydrotherapy rooms, and full-time sports medicine staff. Schools like Dongguan and Wenzhou are strong in specific events. Their competition records prove it.
Academic support is strongest at schools with partner models. Some pair students with one-on-one tutors. Wenzhou Sports School offers a "3+2" program. Students finish five years and earn a combined degree with Zhejiang Institute of Physical Education and Sports.
Help us match families with top schools in China. Take our 1-minute survey to share what matters most.
Career paths after graduation fall into three groups:
- Join a provincial or national team through the sports school pipeline
- Enter a sports university through single-recruitment admission
- Work in the sports industry as a coach, event manager, or rehab specialist
International athletes can also use this experience to apply for NCAA scholarships. Students must keep up their English skills throughout their time in China.
Success Stories
The proof is in the athletes these schools have produced.
Yang Jiayu trained at Beijing Xiannongtan. She won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics in women's 20km race walk. Her technique — large stride, stable pace, strong finish — came from years in that system.
Wu Ruiting trained at Dongguan Sports School. He won the men's triple jump at the 2020 National Track and Field Championships with 16.90 meters. He also set a meeting record of 17.18 meters at the IAAF World Challenge Series in Japan.
Dai Qianqian trained at Wenzhou Sports School. She reached the 2024 Paris Olympics in javelin. She was the first Wenzhou athletics athlete to reach the Olympics in 36 years.
Wenzhou Sports School has also sent almost 400 students to the University. These include Beijing Sport University and Zhejiang University. It shows the system works. The best schools deliver sport and education together. Athletes do not have to choose one over the other.
Conclusion
China's U18 track and field schools are among the best in the world. They are affordable. They are government-backed. And they connect athletes to real competitive paths. The goal might be a national junior record. It might be a spot at the Asian Youth Games. It might be a place at the World School Championships. The right school can open that door.
Track and field in China covers every discipline. Shot put, long jump, pole vault, race walking, sprints, and hurdles. Schools match athletes to the right event early. They build from there with long-term, structured coaching.
Each school has different strengths. Entry rules and academic models differ too. The process is competitive. Timelines are strict. Families need clear, expert help before they decide.
ALIFA Education Services helps international athletes and families access China's sports school system. ALIFA handles school matching, applications, and visa processing. They support families throughout the entire enrollment process and beyond.
Do not leave this to chance. Book a free consultation with ALIFA Education Services today. Give your young athlete the best start in China.
Related Articles
Emmanuel Usang
Emmanuel Usang
Member comments