Chinese Grand Prix

The Maglev from Pudong Airport reaches the city centre in 7 minutes at 431 km/h — the fastest commercial train journey in the world. From the city, metro line 11 or taxis (45 min) reach the circuit in Jiading.

💡 The Maglev is a genuine attraction in itself — a fitting arrival for an F1 city. €8, buys you the fastest 7 minutes of your trip.

Shanghai's colonial banking district on the west bank of the Huangpu River. The 1930s European buildings face the Pudong skyline across the water — one of the world's great architectural contrasts. Walk the full 1.5 km promenade from Huangpu Park to the New Bund.

The world's busiest shopping street — 5 km of Chinese brands, international labels, and extraordinary street food stalls. The People's Square end has the Shanghai Museum (free, exceptional), the Shanghai Urban Planning Museum, and the Grand Theatre.

The 450-year-old Ming Dynasty garden in the heart of Shanghai's old town is a serene contrast to the metropolis outside its walls. The adjacent bazaar has excellent xiao long bao (soup dumplings) at Din Tai Fung.

💡 The soup dumpling queue at Din Tai Fung Old Town runs 45 minutes on weekdays — arrive before 11:30 or after 14:00.

The Shangri-La Pudong's rooftop restaurant is 36 floors above the Huangpu River — the most dramatic view in Shanghai. Modern Chinese cuisine with the Bund's colonial skyline directly across the water. A genuinely exceptional experience.

A perfectly preserved Ming-era water town 40 km from Shanghai — stone bridges, canal gondolas, and 2,000-year-old architecture without the tourist crush of more famous alternatives. 90 minutes by bus from People's Square. A dramatically different Shanghai to the night before.

The Shanghai circuit is 40 minutes from the city by Metro Line 11. FP1 starts at 12:30, FP2 at 16:00. The main grandstand overlooks the pit straight; the grandstand at the end of the back straight (Turn 13) is the best overtaking spectator spot. The Turn 1 'snail shell' hairpin is best seen from the elevated outer section of the main grandstand.

💡 The Turn 6–7 section is where Shanghai's unique character shows — a long flat-out blast through a 180-degree curve at 280 km/h. Position yourself here for FP2 to understand the full circuit.

Shanghai's French Concession is a tree-lined neighbourhood of colonial villas now housing the city's best restaurants and wine bars. Ultraviolet (Paul Pairet's 10-seat molecular gastronomy) is world-famous; Franck Bistrot and Sichuan Citizen are excellent at one-third the price.

Shanghai's best creative quarter — a warren of converted 1930s lilong houses now housing independent boutiques, cafés, and galleries in the former French Concession. Excellent morning coffee and exploration before the qualifying afternoon.

FP3 at 12:30, qualifying at 16:00. Shanghai produces spectacular qualifying sessions — the DRS zone on the back straight is one of the longest in F1, and qualifying positions here directly affect race outcomes. Q3 at the SIC has produced some of the closest pole position battles in recent seasons.

💡 The DRS zone into Turn 13 allows cars to close to within 0.5 seconds of the car ahead — watch for slipstream battles down the main back straight during qualifying simulations in FP3.

Shanghai's most fashionable entertainment district — 1920s shikumen (stone-gated) houses restored around a pedestrianised square. The best cocktail bars in Asia are in Xintiandi. The SHanghai Bar & Dining complex is excellent for post-qualifying celebrations.

The Shanghai Tower (second tallest building in the world) and the Oriental Pearl Tower are both open from 08:30. The Shanghai Tower's observation deck at 546 metres has a glass floor looking straight down to the Bund — a remarkable perspective on a city that defines scale.

Race start at 15:00. 56 laps on a circuit that rewards patience — the long straight creates late-braking overtakes at Turn 1 and Turn 13 regularly. Chinese crowds are increasingly passionate as F1 grows in China. The circuit atmosphere on race day is significantly more energetic than even 5 years ago.

💡 Position yourself at Turn 13 (back straight braking zone) for the race — the longest DRS zone in F1 produces clean side-by-side racing here far more reliably than most circuits.

Metro Line 11 back to the city. Maglev to the airport connects from Longyang Road. PVG is 24 hours with good dining options airside.