The Chinese Grand Prix is the fourth Grand Prix in the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship season and is due to take place on the weekend of the 16th to the 18th of April 2010 at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai. If you’re planning to head out to China to see the race, here is some information about Shanghai and some of the other things that you can see and do whilst you are there.
Shanghai Overview
Although Beijing is the capital of China, Shanghai is the largest city in the country. It’s situated on the East Coast of China, on the Yangtze River Delta and has a population of more than 19 million. It’s one of China’s most important cities, both politically and commercially, and is also a popular tourist destination. Its architecture is comprised of both traditional Chinese styles and contemporary Western designs and it is packed with attractions.
Getting to Shanghai
There are two airports within Shanghai: Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is situated within the city itself, about 8 miles from the downtown district, and although it is an international airport, it now primarily caters for domestic flights. Shanghai Pudong International Airport is situated about 18 miles from the centre of Shanghai and many international airlines operate flights to and from this airport.
Shanghai International Circuit
Shanghai International Circuit is situated in the district of Jiading, about an hour’s drive from Shanghai Pudong International Airport. You can either take a taxi or a shuttle bus to the circuit from the centre of Shanghai.
The circuit, which was built on swampland, was designed by Hermann Tilke and was completed in 2004. It is 5.4km long and the drivers complete 56 laps of it.
Shanghai Hotels
Of the many hotels in Shanghai, one of the closest to the Shanghai International Circuit is the Universal Ever Rich Hotel, which is located in Bao’an Road the Jiading district of the city. It has 188 rooms, together with several restaurants and bars, a health club and a business centre.
Other hotels in Shanghai include The Grand Hyatt Shanghai, The Hilton Shanghai, The Eton Hotel, the Radisson Hotel Shanghai New World and the Crowne Plaza Shanghai.
Attractions in Shanghai
If you’re visiting Shanghai to see the F1 Chinese Grand Prix, it’s worth extending your stay so that you can explore this fascinating city. One of Shanghai’s main attractions is the Bund, an area on the west bank of the Huangpu River. The Bund includes some beautiful buildings, including the Shanghai Customs House, the Peace Hotel and the old Bank of China Building.
For a great view of the Bund, take a cruise on the Huangpu River – a number of operators offer these cruises. You could also take a trip through the somewhat bizarre Bund Sightseeing Tunnel – the tunnel links the Pudong and Puxi areas of the city, and during your 3 minute tram journey through it , you’ll be treated to a light show.
Shanghai has a range of museums. One of the most popular is Shanghai Museum, which has 11 galleries and 3 exhibition halls. Its collection of more than 120,000 exhibits includes statues, bronzes, ceramics and jade ornaments. Other popular attractions in Shanghai include the Jade Buddha Temple and the beautiful Yu Yuan (Garden of Peace and Comfort).
Essential Information
Shanghai is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and the currency used is the Chinese Yuan.
Image: Emily Walker
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