The Chinese sports ministry, hoping to inspire its men's and women's national team, sent the players to a two-and-a-half hour lecture on Communist philosophy and patriotism.
Reuters reported that the session focused on ''using philosophical methods to widen perspective and enhance creativity during matches.''
Li Jianhua, a senior professor at China's Central Communist Party School, gave the lecture.
''He's not bad,'' one player told the Beijing News. ''But we didn't understand much of what he said.''
The men's players was then taken to view the martial arts film ''Curse of the Golden Flower'' with the aim of teaching them ''a sense of hegemony.''
The Chinese men are preparing for the Asian Cup in July. The women host the Women's World Cup in September.