Guangzhou Evergrande as champions of the 2010 season and Chengdu Blades as runners-up were promoted to the 2011 Chinese Super League.

They were replaced by Chongqing Lifan and Changsha Ginde (Now named Shenzhen Phoenix), who were relegated from the 2010 Chinese Super League after finishing the season in the bottom two places of the table.

Nanjing Yoyo were relegated to the 2011 China League Two after finishing the 2010 season in last place.

[2] Furthermore, minor-league club Tianjin Runyulong purchased Anhui Jiufang and their League One license in a similar merger.

[3] Both Guizhou Zhicheng and Tianjin Runyulong will make their debut at the second level of Chinese football.