Tianhe Sports Center in Guangzhou was the first large-scale sports complex built in China after the country adopted the reform and opening-up policy in 1978. Located in the new axis line of Guangzhou, the sports center has become the city's top choice for holding large-scale comprehensive sports events, and is a popular destination for local residents wishing to take part in physical exercise. It is a landmark building with local core elements and characteristics.

Tianhe Sports Center hosted the sixth and ninth Chinese National Games, the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, the first FIFA World Championship for Women's Football, the Stankovic Intercontinental Cup Basketball Game, the Table Tennis Team World Cup, the BWF World Championship, a World Wrestling Championship, the WTA Guangzhou Open and the 2017 BRICS Games during the past three decades.

Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Football Club has collected six Chinese super league (CSL) titles and two AFC Champions League titles since the Tianhe Sports Center was designated as its home field in 2011.

Meanwhile, many celebrities have performed in Tianhe Sports Center. Numerous public sports events have also been held there over the past years.

Incomplete figures show that over 100 million visits have been made to Tianhe Sports Center and its affiliated sports facilities since it opened to the public in 1984. During the same period it has been open to the public for more than 1.5 million hours.

Tianhe Sports Center was designated as a national sports industry demonstration organization by the General Administration of Sport of China on November 17, 2015.