Visiting Guangzhou beat Shanghai Qidouxing in the 23rd round of Chinese Football League Division 1 in Shanghai on October 6, and sealed their place of promotion back to the Chinese Premiership League in the coming season.

Substitute Gaoming heads the winning goal for Guangzhou. (Guangzhou Daily Photo) 

Guangzhou's Brazilian defender Olivera (in white) plays against rival forward.  (Guangzhou Daily Photo) 

The 1-0 victory ended Guangzhou's exile away from Chinese top division for nine years, thanks to substitute Gaoming's header in the second half.

Guangzhou, still unbeaten, tops the Division 1 by 12 points clear over the 3-place Jiangsu, with three rounds ahead. The top two teams will be promoted.

Guangzhou players lines up before the match in Shanghai.  (Guangzhou Daily Photo) 

Vice Mayor of Guangzhou Xu Ruisheng (right) congratulates the coach of Guangzhou Shen Xiangfu after the match. (Guangzhou Daily Photo) 

Vice Mayor of Guangzhou Xu Ruisheng went to the venue in Shanghai and was watching the much-expected win on the stand.

Ex-veteran midfielder of Guangzhou Peng Weiguo cried for joy after the match. He used to be a Chinese national player and Guangzhou's playmaker in their heyday from 1990 to 1995, when the team ever bagged runners-up twice in Chinese top division. He is also the coach of Shanghai Qidouxing now.

Cantonese in Shanghai cheer for Guangzhou in the match. (Guangzhou Daily Photo) 

Chief of Chinese Football Association Xie Yalong sent a mobile-phone message of congratulations to a Guangzhou sport official.

Hundreds of supporters greeted the returning team in gaiety at the Baiyun Airport in Guangzhou on the evening of October 6.

Guangzhou Team is sponsored by listed tycoon Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Group and coached by former Chinese national manager Shen Xiangfu. They have two national players respectively of the senior and Olympic squads.