• Facebook
  • Twitter
MENUMENU
  • Menu
      • Australia (Albert Park)
      • Bahrain (Sakhir)
      • vietnamVietnam (Hanoi Street Circuit)
      • China (Shanghai International Circuit)
      • netherlands f1Dutch Grand Prix (Zandvoort)
      • Spain (Circuit de Catalunya)
      • Monaco (Monte Carlo)
      • f1 azerbaijanAzerbaijan (Baku)
      • Canada (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve)
      • France (Paul Ricard)
      • Austria (Red Bull Ring)
      • British Grand Prix (Silverstone)
      • Hungary (Hungaroring)
      • Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
      • Italy (Monza)
      • Singapore (Marina Bay)
      • f1 russiaRussia (Sochi)
      • Japan (Suzuka)
      • USA (Circuit of the Americas)
      • f1 mexicoMexico (Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez)
      • f1 brazilBrazil (Interlagos)
      • Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)
    • f1 schedule 2021

      2021 F1 Calendar drops Hanoi, adds Saudi GP night race

    • Hey, I'm Danny - just your regular F1 obsessed nut. I started the F1 Spectator to inform and inspire other fans who are planning their F1 trip

      Read More

    • I love hearing from you guys. if you have a story, a question or just want to say hi, this is the bit you click on.

      CONTACT


      Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook

      .
      • Home
      • Resources
      • Blog
      • about
      • contact

Chinese Grand Prix F1 Travel Guide

Chinese Grand Prix

Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai
2021 (TBC)
  • Tips & Info
  • Tickets
  • Spectating
  • Getting There
2021 EVENT STATUS: POSTPONED
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year's Chinese Grand Prix has been postponed. It may or may not be rescheduled later this year.

Hosting it’s first race in 2004, the Shanghai International Circuit was the second ‘from scratch’ F1 circuit of the now ubiquitous Herman Tilke template. The circuit soon earned a reputation as a venue that delivered lackluster races, though there have been plenty of exceptions over the years.

chinese grand prix

From an F1 spectators point of view the venue offers a lot on some fronts while disappointing on others. The atmosphere at the circuit can be something akin to an accountants convention with little to ramp up the sense of occasion and make it truly memorable. There is little in the way of side shows and off circuit entertainment and even the usual array of food and beverage stalls are a poor offering compared to most other venues.

Putting all that aside, the actual views of the circuit are exceptional. This modern facility, has been designed from the ground up to give F1 fans a visual feast that few other circuits can. From the the top tiers of the main grandstands fans can take in a view of nearly the entire track, even when Shanghai’s often hazy skies might try and ruin it for you.

Shanghai itself is often too busy to notice there’s a Grand Prix going on in it’s suburbs and the race weekend revelry doesn’t envelope the whole city as is the case in other city F1 destinations but the place is none the less a fascinating and at times awe-inspiring place to spend a few days.

A Capitalist on Every Street Corner

Though still communist, China embraced free market economics in the 1980’s and nowadays you’ll find an eager capitalist on every street corner in Shanghai.

The circuit is no exception and should you get frustrated by the venue’s usually dismal collection of food and drink outlets you might find what you’re looking for through the circuit’s perimeter fence.

Hawkers gather to flog bottles of water, corn on the cob, kebab sticks and even cans of Tsingtao beer at their captive market. They are about double the price you’d pay elsewhere in the city but still very reasonable prices considering it’s a Grand Prix after all.

Things to do for F1 fans in Shanghai – Attractions away from the circuit

Shanghai is one of my favorite Asian cities and if you’re here for an extended trip while going to the Grand Prix you will find plenty to keep you entertained and enthralled.

The mix of east and west, old and new that defines modern China is nowhere more evident than in Shanghai. The contrast is striking: stroll along the Bund admiring European colonial buildings on one side and look across the Huangpo river to the futuristic skyscrapers of Pudong on the other; meander through ramshackle street markets in the morning and shop among the designer stores and bright lights of Nanjing road in the evening.

destination shanghai
© Bernd Thaller | Flickr

Shanghai Auto Museum

chinese gp attraction
© H.B. Kang | Flickr

This impressive collection of vintage cars is well worth a visit if you’re in Shanghai for the Grand Prix (especially as it’s located just one subway stop away from the circuit).

The exhibits are mainly American, with some rare turn of the century Chinese models and are housed in 3 floors of a space-agey type building in the Shanghai Auto Expo Park, about 2km from the Automobile City metro station.

Of particular interest to F1 fans is a 1948 Maserati Grand Prix car which competed in the 1948 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Allow about 2 hours for the museum, pick up an audio guide from the ticket desk.

opening hours9:30AM – 4:30PM (last admittance is at 4PM), closed on Mondays
ticket priceAdult: 60RMB
websitewww.old-en.shautomuseum.gov.cn
email address[email protected]
phone number+86 2169 5500 55
address locationShanghai Anting Bo Road No. 7565 | GPS: 31.2786215,121.1680086 | View on map

Essential Info

CurrencyYuan (RMB)
TimeGMT +8
LanguageShanghainese (though Manderin is widely understood)


When F1 usually visits, Shanghai is on the cusp of summer time. One day you might be comfortable in your short trousers and the next you’ll be digging out your winter jacket.

back to top
ABOUT MEQUESTIONS & FEEDBACKSUBSCRIBEDISCLAIMER
about F1SI’m Danny, an incurable Formula 1 fan for over 25 years and founder of The F1 Spectator. My aim is to inform and inspire, arming you with helpful tips and advice for your next F1 trip.

Follow @thef1spectator

Do you have any questions? Is there something you think needs correcting? Do you want to add something you think other fans would benefit from? Do you want to send me a poem about your cat? Whatever your reasons, you can get in touch and get a response from a real, live human here.
You can get updates about this Grand Prix and others so you'll be the first to know when tickets go on sale, get Early Bird discounts and snap up the best seats. Go here to sign up and choose your preferences.
Please remember that while a lot of care and painstaking research goes into each F1S guide, they are just that - a guide. Things change so it's important do your own due diligence and fact checking before attending a Grand Prix.

2017 F1 Spectator Guides

Austrian Grand Prix Travel Guide

Austrian Grand Prix Travel Guide

British Grand Prix F1 Travel Guide

British Grand Prix Travel Guide

Hungarian Grand Prix Travel Guide

Hungarian Grand Prix Travel Guide

Belgian Grand Prix Travel Guide

Belgian Grand Prix Travel Guide

Italian Grand Prix Travel Guide

Italian Grand Prix Travel Guide

Singapore Grand Prix Travel Guide

Singapore Grand Prix Travel Guide

Malaysian Grand Prix Travel Guide

Malaysian Grand Prix Travel Guide

Japanese Grand Prix Travel Guide

Japanese Grand Prix Travel Guide

United States Grand Prix Travel Guide

United States Grand Prix Travel Guide

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Travel Guide

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Travel Guide

2018 F1 Spectator Guides

Australian Grand Prix Travel Guide

Australian Grand Prix Travel Guide

Chinese Grand Prix F1 Travel Guide

Chinese Grand Prix Travel Guide

Bahrain Grand Prix Travel Guide

Bahrain Grand Prix Travel Guide

Spanish Grand Prix Travel Guide

Spanish Grand Prix Travel Guide

Monaco Grand Prix Travel Guide

Monaco Grand Prix Travel Guide

Canadian Grand Prix Travel Guide

Canadian Grand Prix Travel Guide

[TWTR]

Featured Posts

f1 schedule 2021

2021 F1 Calendar drops Hanoi, adds Saudi GP night race

2020 F1 Calendar takes shape: 4 Grand Prix abandoned, Imola, Algarve and Nürburgring confirmed

monaco historic grand prix

Time Travellers Guide to the Monaco Historic Grand Prix

f1 tv pro contest

Win a 1 year F1 TV Pro Subscription

The F1 Spectator Grand Prix Survival Guide

F1 Travel Guides

  • Australia (Albert Park)
  • Bahrain (Sakhir)
  • vietnamVietnam (Hanoi Street Circuit)
  • China (Shanghai International Circuit)
  • netherlands f1Dutch Grand Prix (Zandvoort)
  • Spain (Circuit de Catalunya)
  • Monaco (Monte Carlo)
  • f1 azerbaijanAzerbaijan (Baku)
  • Canada (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve)
  • France (Paul Ricard)
  • Austria (Red Bull Ring)
  • British Grand Prix (Silverstone)
  • Hungary (Hungaroring)
  • Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
  • Italy (Monza)
  • Singapore (Marina Bay)
  • f1 russiaRussia (Sochi)
  • Japan (Suzuka)
  • USA (Circuit of the Americas)
  • f1 mexicoMexico (Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez)
  • f1 brazilBrazil (Interlagos)
  • Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)
  • Blog
  • resources
  • Submit Review
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

This website is unofficial and is not associated in any way with the Formula One group of companies. F1, FORMULA ONE, FORMULA 1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX and related marks are trade marks of Formula One Licensing B.V.

© Copyright The F1 Spectator 2014-2021. All rights reserved.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

© Copyright The F1 Spectator 2014-2017. All rights reserved.

made with ♥ by an F1 nut

bahrain grandstand map

The F1 Spectator uses cookies to improve the user experience. Read more.