With Chinese football clubs spending over 400 million US dollars on new players during the off-season, the 2017 Chinese Super League promises to be eagerly anticipated both at home and abroad. The new season is set to kick off this weekend on March 4, and in a special four-part preview series, CGTN takes a look at this year’s teams and everything you need to know about each team.

2016 finishing position: 3rd 

Perhaps the team most likely to break Evergrande’s stranglehold on the CSL (who have won the title seven years in a row), the team is bankrolled by the city’s port authority, which has overseen heavy investment on the playing side. Portuguese manager Andre Villas-Boas has a reputation as of the world’s most highly-rated coaches, and will be hoping to add the CSL to league titles he has previously won in Portugal and Russia.

Star players: SIPG made the biggest splash in the close season, picking up playmaker Oscar for 60 million US dollars. The Brazilian international will be expected to lay on plenty of goalscoring opportunities for compatriots Hulk and Elkeson, in what looks like being the CSL’s most exciting attacking triumvirate. Behind the three amigos up front, Cai Huikang plays an important role as SIPG’s anchorman, breaking up opposition attacks and protecting the defence. 

2016 finishing position: 13th

Henan flirted with relegation last year, finishing just three points above the drop zone. The Zhengzhou side is owned by the Chinese construction firm of the same name, whose chairman Hu Baosen will be hoping that manager Jia Xiuquan can absorb the loss of star midfielder Yin Hongbo to Hebei China Fortune.

Star players: Yin’s departure leaves a void in midfield that Borek Dockal will be hoping to fill. The Czech midfielder is a regular in his country’s national team, and featured at last summer’s European Championships. Asian interest comes in the form of striker Javier Patino, the only Filipino playing in China’s top flight, who will be hoping his third season at Henan is his most fruitful yet.

2016 finishing position: 10th 

Another team lacking the considerable financial clout of Evergrande or SIPG, Liaoning may find themselves looking nervously over their shoulders come October if Nigerian forward Anthony Ujah doesn’t find his shooting boots.

Star players: Unusually for a CSL team, Liaoning’s team captain is a foreign player, namely Zambia’s James Chamanga. The veteran striker has played in China since 2008, and the northeast club will once again be relying on his goals to keep them afloat. New signings include Australian internationals Robbie Kruse and James Holland, both of whom arrive with a wealth of experience playing in Europe.