GP drives celebration of automotive culture

As Formula One celebrates its 75th anniversary, Shanghai has transformed into an "F1 City", brimming with race-related activities and themed events that have ignited the city's passion for racing.

Preparations for the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit, which runs from March 21 to 23, are in full swing. With teams arriving and the city buzzing with excitement, a series of events have been organized to showcase Shanghai's automotive culture.

The Checkered Flag Carnival kicked off on March 16 on the North Bund at the International Cruise Terminal in Hongkou district. Located by the Huangpu River, this year's carnival features interactive booths like simulators, pit-stop experiences and up-close encounters with luxury cars.

"Each year's Chinese Grand Prix draws attention from fans across China and the globe. Through events like the carnival, we aim to convert race-related traffic into economic benefits and boost the links between the cultural, sports, commercial and tourism industries," said Xia Qing, deputy general manager of Shanghai Juce Culture and Media Co Ltd. So far, the carnival has seen high attendance, with the new pet-friendly area fully booked.

The other standout feature is the live race broadcasts at the venue. Last weekend, fans gathered to watch the 2025 F1 season opener in Australia, and on Sunday the upcoming Shanghai race will also be shown.

"This will be my first time watching F1 races in Shanghai, and the carnival is amazing. The combination of these beautiful cars against Shanghai's skyline is incredible," said Adelusi, a visitor from the United States.

Moroccan international student Yassine Tazarni highlighted the carnival's historical aspects: "The classic car showcase demonstrates how the city combines racing heritage with innovation and technology."

On Tuesday, Chinese F1 star Zhou Guanyu made his first domestic fan appearance since joining Ferrari as a reserve driver, interacting with fans at the carnival. A 1.8-meter-tall art installation featuring Zhou was on display both at the North Bund and the Shanghai International Circuit.

"I've been inspired by Zhou's story; it's changed my attitude towards life," said Hao Weisong, a student from Hangzhou who traveled to Shanghai for the event. Fans like Hao often share race updates in fan groups.

Another attendee, Lou Yikai from Shanghai, said: "I've been into F1 since I was eight or nine. Zhou's achievement as the first Chinese F1 driver makes me proud." Lou sometimes tries to emulate his hero by driving go-karts.

The Dream Jiading Park, a themed park linked with the Checkered Flag Carnival, will be held in the Water Plaza at the Shanghai International Circuit. Spanning 32,000 square meters, it will offer automotive-themed cultural products, intangible cultural heritage items and will feature glasses-free 3D shows, robot dance performances and new car displays.

"We hope this one-stop experience allows visitors to fully enjoy Jiading's vibrant lifestyle and futuristic charm," said Jin Fen, deputy director of Jiading district's culture and tourism administration.

Additionally, Jin explained that tourists with F1 tickets can get free or discounted entry to attractions.

"By leveraging such events, we seek to attract a wide cross-section of visitors and promote our automotive culture. Our goal is to transform the buzz generated by F1 into developmental momentum for our city," Jin stated.

In addition, the 17th Shanghai Auto Culture Festival will be held from March 21 to April 25, offering various activities and events, including the 2025 China Karting Championship, the 2025 CTCC China Touring Car Championship, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia's Shanghai leg, as well as related conferences, such as the 2025 Sino-German Automotive Industry Summit, the 2025 Yangtze River Delta New Energy Vehicle Industry Chain High-Quality Development Conference, and the 2025 Automotive Consumer Trends Insight Conference.

The district also offers attractions like the Shanghai Auto Museum, China's first professional car museum, featuring historical, classic and technical exhibits, as well as a children's interactive zone.

From March to April, cars like the Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar and a vintage Cadillac DeVille will tour Shanghai's scenic spots.

"These vintage cars on display at the museum span a century, showcasing a diverse range of styles. Each exhibit has undergone full restoration. We aim to provide an opportunity for more people to not only appreciate these vintage vehicles, but also reminisce about their own cherished memories," said Yang Xi, Shanghai Auto Museum's promotional manager.

The Dream Micro City Venue, a miniature model park, recreates Jiading-themed scenery for future F1 interaction. Co-founder Jin Gang said: "We've included Jiading's landmarks, like the Shanghai Volkswagen factory and the Shanghai International Circuit. Visitors will be able to place their own miniature figures into the scene."

Dream Micro City Venue is the first miniature landscape theme park in China centered around model trains. Spanning over 2,000 sq m, it intricately presents a miniature world at a 1:87 scale. Accompanied by the chuffing of tiny diesel engines, trains depart from Anting, Jiading, heading towards Europe.

"In Europe, model trains are popular, and most of our themes are actually inspired by foreign concepts," Jin said.

"However, we have added two distinctive scenes: one depicting a city of automobiles and another showcasing China-proposed's Belt and Road Initiative.

"We also aim to promote train culture and tell China's story through tabletop models."

Zheng Zheng, Xia Miao, and Li Junfeng contributed to this story.