About 47,000 spectators packed into Beijing Workers’ Stadium to watch the opening game of the 2023 Chinese Super League (CSL) between Beijing Guoan and Meizhou Hakka, the first official match held at the stadium after more than two years of reconstruction. Photo: Wei Meng/Caixin

Chinese singer Wei Wei, wearing a red dress, performed “Asian Mighty Winds” during the opening ceremony on Saturday. She first performed the song at the 1990 Asian Games, also hosted in Workers’ Stadium. Photo: Wei Meng/Caixin

Beijing Guoan’s No. 10 player Zhang Xizhe scores a penalty kick, helping his team draw 1-1 on their home turf with the visiting Meizhou Hakka. Photo: Peng Ziyang/Xinhua

Zhang waves to Guoan fans during the game. The home-and-away format has been fully restored in the CSL’s new season, state news agency Xinhua reported. Photo: Peng Ziyang/Xinhua

Spectators line up to enter the stadium on Saturday. Tickets for the first game at the rebuilt stadium were sold out in just five minutes after going on sale Thursday, according to Xinhua. Photo: Sun Muzi (intern)/Caixin

People enter the stadium on Saturday. Photo: Wei Meng/Caixin

A man poses for a photo in front of the iconic statue at the north gate of the stadium. Photo: Wei Meng/Caixin

The stadium before (left) and after the rebuild. The venue has been upgraded into a world-class professional soccer stadium — the capital’s first, according to Xinhua. Photo: VCG