Dalian Shide F.C.
Li Zhichao would start his football career playing for the various Dalian Shide F.C. youth teams before he was loaned out to the teams satellite youth team called Dalian Shide Siwu FC that was allowed to take part in Singapore's 2008 S.League. Li would soon return to Dalian Shide and within the 2008 Chinese Super League season he would make his debut for the club on June 25, 2008, in a league game against Liaoning Whowin in a 2–1 victory. After that game he would predominantly be used as a substitute until June 18, 2011, saw him eventually score his first goal for the club in a league game against Tianjin Teda F.C. that ended in a 1–1 draw.