Wuxi high school teachers practice their dribbling skills during a football course in Wuxi on Aug 27. [Photo/ wxrb.com]

Since 2014, the city has established 108 schools specializing in soccer training.

Earlier this year, the city's education bureau pledged to pump 3 million yuan ($430,000) per year into soccer-related projects.

Wuxi also has a rapidly growing amateur football league system, with city-, district-, and school-level competitions.

These initiatives have helped unearth several rising young stars, with Wuxi No.1 Middle School's soccer team winning a silver medal in the U18B Group of the 2016 Gothia Cup, a prestigious international youth soccer tournament.