Changchun Yatai Football Club (长春亚泰足球俱乐部), based in Changchun, Jilin, was founded on 6 June 1996 by the local conglomerate Jilin Yatai Group.[1] The club’s crest has undergone five documented changes since its founding, with the current version in use since 2007.[2]
Design and History
The club selected a dragon kicking a ball as its crest while assembling its senior team in the late 1990s.[1] According to the club’s own account, the crest has changed five times since 1996. The first-generation crest was used only at the club’s founding, while the second-generation crest was used from the 1997 season through the end of the 2000 season. The third generation was a color adjustment of the second and lasted just two seasons. The fourth-generation crest accompanied the club from the second division through to the Chinese Super League, and the fifth generation, a modification of the fourth, has been in use since the club’s 2007 championship year.[2]
In April 2004, ahead of a China League One round, the club unveiled a new crest, which was reported alongside its new title sponsorship.[3]
Meaning and Symbolism
The current crest’s dominant red represents fervor and passion. The central figure, a small dragon playing football, depicts the club’s striving, forward-charging spirit. The green, interweaving feathers (some observers describe them as pine branches) signify hope, spreading wings and soaring ambition. The number “1996” marks the year the club was established.[4][5]
The badge shows a cartoon footballer in a red shirt and white shorts beside a black and white ball, framed by green leafy branches inside a white shield edged in red and gold. “CHANGCHUN YATAI FOOTBALL CLUB” fills the red rectangular header, with a gold “YATAI FOOTBALL” ribbon crossing the lower centre above white Chinese lettering and the year 1996 on the red base.[6]
In January 2025, when Nike released the club’s home kit for the 2025 season, the jersey featured a championship star embroidered above the club crest, highlighting the club’s historical achievement.[7]
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