Linzi Football Museum

Linzi Football Museum

The Linzi Football Museum is located in the central urban area of Linzi, Zibo City, Shandong Province — the birthplace of football. Situated by Tai Gong Lake at the Qi Culture Museum, the museum covers an area of 11,800 square meters. The newly built facility integrates various functions including sightseeing, leisure and entertainment, historical and cultural research, and product development, condensing the history of cuju (ancient Chinese football) culture, sports culture, and world football history in China. It systematically showcases the origin, development, and spread of football over the past 2,400 years.

Development History

Cuju, a sporting activity and form of entertainment that has influenced China for over two thousand years, has had a profound impact on world football. On July 15, 2004, FIFA officially confirmed that ancient Chinese cuju is the origin of football. On September 12, 2005, under the guidance, assistance, and strong support of FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation, the Cultural and Historical Committee of the State General Administration of Sports, and the Chinese Football Association, the world’s first professional football museum — comprehensively showcasing thousands of years of the evolution of Chinese football and the development of world football — was officially inaugurated in Linzi, Zibo, the birthplace of world football.

The Linzi Football Museum is the world’s first professional football museum, condensing the history of Chinese cuju culture, folklore development, sports culture, and world football history. It is a three-dimensional encyclopedia of football culture. On July 15, 2004, then-FIFA President Mr. Blatter solemnly announced in Beijing that football originated in Linzi, Zibo. The Linzi Football Museum is the world’s first museum to comprehensively display the origin and development of football, and is the first professional football museum both domestically and internationally. Ancient Chinese cuju is the origin of modern football. It was born in the ancient Qi State between the Yellow River and the Mount Tai region — present-day Zibo, Shandong. “Cu” means “to kick,” and “ju” means “ball.” Cuju relied on the strong material and military cultural foundation of its time, and followed a developmental path closely aligned with the rise and fall of feudal society. It saw great development during the Han Dynasty, flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties, began to decline from the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, remained popular mainly among the public during the Qing Dynasty, and was only practiced in a few local areas in modern times, with the sport still preserved in the Linzi region.

The Linzi Football Museum is a two-story building divided into two main sections: ancient football and modern football. Upon entering the first-floor hall, visitors are greeted by a “river of time” composed of cuju balls and footballs from various eras, symbolizing the development journey from cuju to football. The traces of its evolution form the first letters of “Linzi” in Chinese Pinyin — “L” and “Z” — as well as the first letter of the English word “World” — “W.” On either side are displays of traditional cuju maneuvers and classic moves by modern football stars, together revealing the museum’s theme: “Cuju of Linzi, Football of the World.” From north to south on the first floor are the Preface Hall, Origin Tracing Hall, Origins Hall, Development Hall, Prosperity Hall, Decline Hall, and Influence & Spread Hall, mainly illustrating the developmental history of ancient football. The upstairs exhibition area is divided into three parts: the confirmation of football’s origin, modern and contemporary Chinese football, and world football. The museum boasts a rich collection of artifacts and detailed materials, displaying nearly 200 precious relics and hundreds of historical images from ancient to modern times and across the globe. There are also over 20 restored scenes where visitors can enjoy spectacular performances of ancient cuju.

Since FIFA President Blatter officially announced in May 2005 in Beijing that Linzi is the birthplace of world football, Linzi has gained an attractive new calling card for global recognition. Not only was the world’s first comprehensive and systematic museum — the Linzi Football Museum — established to showcase over two thousand years of football development and global football culture, but Linzi also participated in a series of international events such as the FIFA closing ceremony and the “Charming Football Exhibition” in Hamburg, Germany, greatly enhancing its visibility both at home and abroad. In 2007, the iconic memorial of the football birthplace — “The Source of the Sacred Ball” — was permanently installed at the FIFA headquarters building, becoming a major testament to Linzi’s global presence.

“Cuju” was the ancient Chinese sport of football. “Cu” means “to kick with the foot,” and “ju” refers to a leather ball. “Cuju” literally means “kicking a ball.” It was a sporting activity and form of entertainment that influenced China for over two thousand years. On July 15, 2004, FIFA confirmed that ancient Chinese cuju is the origin of football.

The history of ball games in China can be traced back thousands or even tens of thousands of years, but it wasn’t until the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods in the ancient Qi State capital of Linzi that a clear set of game rules was established — giving rise to cuju.

During the Western Han Dynasty, cuju began to flourish, and China — and the world — saw its first ever football fanatic and loyal fan, Xiang Chu.

The ball evolved from being solid to inflatable, becoming lighter, with an increasing number of sections and a shape closer to a perfect sphere, much like modern footballs.

In the development of ancient Chinese cuju, three basic forms emerged: team-based direct competition, indirect competition with a single goal, and “baifa” (free-style non-goal play).

Cuju spread earliest eastward to Japan and Goguryeo (Korea).

The greatest influence of cuju came through its external spread, gradually evolving into what is today the world’s most captivating top sport — football.

The history of ball games in China can be traced back thousands or even tens of thousands of years, but it wasn’t until the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods in the ancient Qi State capital — Linzi — that a clear set of game rules was established — giving rise to cuju. The greatest influence of cuju came through its external spread, gradually evolving into the world’s most captivating top sport — football. FIFA President Mr. Blatter once said: “Football originated in China, spread from there to Egypt, then to Greece, Rome, France, and finally to England.”

On July 15, 2004, at the opening ceremony of the “Third China International Football Expo” held in Beijing, FIFA President Blatter officially announced that football originated in China. At the subsequent press conference, AFC Secretary-General Dato’ Paul Mony Samuel, representing FIFA and the AFC, officially declared that world football originated in Linzi, Zibo, China. The AFC, the Cultural and Historical Committee of the State General Administration of Sports, and the Chinese Football Association formally awarded Zibo, Linzi, the “Football Birthplace Certificate” and a commemorative cup. Thus, Linzi officially became the birthplace of world football. In September 2005, the Linzi Football Museum was completed and opened to the public.

Venue Features

Since its opening, the Linzi Football Museum has attracted nearly 100,000 domestic and international visitors and nearly 100 domestic and foreign news media outlets to explore the origin of football, experience cuju culture, and appreciate the charm of the sport. Given the scarcity of cuju artifacts — most of which are scattered among the public — the Linzi District has increased efforts in the protection and collection of cuju relics, and actively applied for recognition as part of China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The antique-style cuju performances at the Linzi Football Museum feature vibrant colors, novel movements, and elegant, traditional music. Since its establishment, the museum has performed nearly 2,000 times for important official events, product promotions, and corporate publicity for governments and enterprises at all levels, becoming a symbolic cultural brand of Zibo and Linzi.

Cuju performances come in three forms: direct competition, indirect competition, and baifa. Baifa cuju mainly competes in style and skill, requires simple grounds, and is widely practiced. The kicking movements and styles in cuju are called “jie shu” (skill sets). Those using shoulders, chests, backs, and heads are called “upper-section jie shu”; those using knees, waists, and abdomens are called “middle-section jie shu”; and those using calves, insteps, ankles, toes, and heels are called “lower-section jie shu.” These three types of skill sets can be temporarily combined based on the ball’s landing point and position to form complete routines. During formal cuju matches, players must display all their skills and perform a variety of maneuvers. Each set of skill sets includes multiple kicking techniques, such as “guai” (pivot), “nie” (slip), “da” (press), “deng” (step), and “nian” (twist). The ancients also gave some moves interesting names, such as “Turn the Universe,” “Swallow Returns to Nest,” “Slanted Flower Insertion,” “Wind-Swaying Lotus,” “Buddha’s Crown Pearl,” as well as “Dry Land Fish Catch,” “Golden Buddha Pushes Mill,” “Double Shoulders Carry Moon,” and “Guai Zi Meteor.”

Visiting Information

Transportation to the Scenic Area:

The Linzi World Football Museum is located at No. 759, Linzi Avenue, Linzi District. It faces the Administrative Office Center of the Linzi District People’s Government to the north and south, and is adjacent to the Linzi Long-Distance Bus Station to the east and west. Various long-distance buses and municipal bus routes 20 and 5 all pass by the museum, greatly facilitating visitor access. Visitors can take bus 20 from the city center and get off at the Linzi Agricultural Bank Station, or take the dedicated tourist bus route 5 directly to the scenic area.

Self-Driving Route:

From Jinan or Qingdao — take the Jiqing Expressway — exit at Linzi — drive south along Yingbin Avenue — drive east along National Highway 309 (Renmin Road / Linzi Avenue) — the museum is located south of the Agricultural Bank of China road. It takes approximately 3–5 minutes after exiting the highway. Transportation is very convenient.

Suggested Routes:

1. Suitable for international guests from around the world, choose the “International Football Origin Ancestral Tour.” Recommended sites: Linzi Football Museum — Jiang Taigong Temple.

2. Suitable for tourists interested in researching and learning about Qi State history and the development of football, choose the “Qi State Capital Football Origin Tour.” Recommended sites: Linzi Football Museum — Qi State History Museum.

3. Suitable for tourists interested in football, cars, and horses. Please choose the Football Origins Carriage Tour. It is recommended to visit the Linzi Football Museum ― Linzi Ancient Carriage Museum;

4. Suitable for young students and entertainment-focused groups. Please choose the Football Origins Entertainment Tour. It is recommended to visit the Linzi Football Museum ― Yudai Lake Park or Yuanshan Forest Park.

Address: No. 759, Linzi Avenue, Linzi District, Zibo City

Opening Hours:

9:00–17:00 (ticket sales stop at 16:30), closed on Mondays

Tickets:

Qiculture Museum + Football Museum Joint Ticket  60 RMB

Linzi Football Museum Adult Ticket  30 RMB