Asian Cup: Team China hard at work in Abu Dhabi - in pictures

Marcello Lippi's side train in capital ahead of Group C fixtures against Kyrgyzstan, Philippines and South Korea

Wu Xi of China trains before the start of the Asian Cup at Al Wahda Academy in Abu Dhabi. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National

Wang Dalei, left, and Yan Junling during China's training session at Al Wahda Academy in Abu Dhabi.

Zhang Lu trains before the start of the Asian Cup at Al Wahda Academy in Abu Dhabi.

Zhang Lin Peng, centre, of China trains with his teammates at Al Wahda Academy in Abu Dhabi.

Yu Dabao, right, trains before the start of the Asian Cup at Al Wahda Academy in Abu Dhabi.

Yu Hanchao of China trains before the start of the Asian Cup at Al Wahda Academy in Abu Dhabi.

Gao Lin of China trains before the start of the Asian Cup at Al Wahda Academy in Abu Dhabi.

Yu Han Chao, left, and Zhang Lin Peng, right, of China train before the start of the Asian Cup at Al Wahda Academy in Abu Dhabi.

Yu Dabao, centre, of China trains before the start of the Asian Cup at Al Wahda Academy in Abu Dhabi.

China manager Marcello Lippi during training before the start of the Asian Cup at Al Wahda Academy in Abu Dhabi.

The Chinese national football team were seen training hard in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Asian Cup on Thursday.

China, who have made 11 appearances in the continental showdown and finished runners-up in 1984 and 2004, will be forgiven for flying under the radar a little given their build-up to the finals in the UAE.

The appointment of Marcello Lippi, a World Cup-winning manager, more than two years ago has yet to pay rich dividends. In fact, as the septuagenarian's tenure draws to a close at the finals, the question is whether the veteran Italian has made much of a difference at all.

The former Juventus manager oversaw an upturn in fortunes in the early days of his reign, but China go into the tournament in the midst of an indifferent run of form.

Drawn into Group C, China kickstart their campaign against Kyrgyzstan on Monday in Al Ain. They take on the Philippines next, in Abu Dhabi on January 11. Their final group game will be the big one: against South Korea, Asian giants and 2015 Asian Cup runners-up, on January 16 also in the capital.

You can check out staff photographer Christopher Whiteoak's pictures of China's training session by browsing the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

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Groups:

GROUP A: UAE, Bahrain, India, Thailand

GROUP B: Australia, Syria, Jordan, Palestine

GROUP C: South Korea, China, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines

GROUP D: Iran, Iraq, Vietnam, Yemen

GROUP E: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, North Korea

GROUP F: Japan, Uzbekistan, Oman, Turkmenistan