Qingdao Hainiu sits last with 14 points after 26 rounds, while Wuhan Three Towns holds 21, both well adrift of the 25-point mark shared by Liaoning Tieren and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger. Multiple clubs, including Wuhan Three Towns, Qingdao Hainiu, and several mid-table sides, entered the campaign with points deductions tied to prior federation sanctions over match-fixing. With four rounds left, the bottom pair’s poor goal difference and inconsistent results leave little margin for recovery, though any late surge by the teams immediately above could still alter the final relegation spots before the November conclusion.