In their search for first head coach, Pei Encai attracted Chongqing's attention.

Pei was the manager of Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Sainty who had ended the Season 2010 on 11th place.

[3] The club signed some former Chinese Super League players such as Zheng Wei, Ma Xiaolei and Guo Mingyue during the summer transfer window.

They went on to win both their legs of the quarter-finals against Shandong Youth, and gained promotion to China League One after brushing aside Dongguan Nancheng in the semi-finals.

They advanced to the final but narrowly lost in the penalty shoot-out against the eventual champions Harbin Songbei Yiteng.