The City of Shanghai has many, many sites for amateur athletic contests. However, for top-notch professional games and matches, you will be limited to the following locations. We also offer one website for buying tickets online. However, we urge caution, as this type of transaction is new in China.
TENNIS: Shanghai ATP Masters: This tournament will require mandatory participation from the world’s top players in a 56-draw for singles. The tournament is played in the Qizhong Stadium (5500, Yuan Jiang Lu). Tickets are available at the following tennis clubs:
- Pudong Tennis Center
9 Yushan Road (Yuansheng Stadium)
Tel: 5821-5850 - Shanghai International Tennis Center
516 Hengshan Road (Regal Hotel)
Tel: 6415-5588 ext. 82 - Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center
5500 Yuanjiang Lu, Minhang District.
Ph: 5498-1888. - Shanghai Racquet Club
Lane 555 Jinfeng Road, Huacao Town, Minhang District
Tel: 22010088. - Shanghai XianXia Tennis Center
1885 Hongqiao Lu
Tel: 6261 5984
BASKETBALL: Shanghai Sharks: This is the Chinese Basketball Association that developed Yao Ming. They play most of their home basketball games November through April in Luwan Stadium, Zhaojiabang Lu 128 (tel. 021/6427-8673 or 021/6467-5358). Tickets are 30 to 200 RMB.
FORMULA ONE RACING: F1 racing officially came into China with the Shanghai Grand Prix in September 2004. Located in the northwestern suburb of Anting in Jiading County, about 40 minutes from People’s Square, the Shanghai International Circuit (Shanghai Guoji Saichechang), which will host F1 races until 2017, features a track in the contours of the Chinese character shang – that is the first character of Shanghai’s name and also, and not by chance, means above – and a 10-story glass and steel grandstand. Tickets range from ¥160 for practice sessions to ¥3,200 for top seats overlooking the finish line on the last day.
You can get “resale” tickets outside the circuit. But the resale “with Chinese characteristics”, very common in many events, is different to what you are used: the tickets are actually cheaper. Many people receive tickets for an event as result of their guanxi, their acquaintances give them as a sign of friendship. Many of these tickets, together with more that came – don’t ask how – directly from the organization, finish in the hands of the people that you will find outside any big event. Be aware of fake tickets, but they are not common.
Tourist bus line 6B (4 RMB) makes the run to Anting from the Shanghai Stadium. For more information, call tel. 021/9682-6999 or 021/6330-5555; or visit.
FOOTBALL: The Shanghai Shenhua F.C. is the city’s representative in the Chinese Super League. They play on weekends at the Hongkou Stadium (444 Dong Jiangwan Lu, 56967633). It’s a good team for Chinese standards – they won their last championship in 2003 – but don’t expect to witness a great match, the Chinese football is still a long way behind the major European leagues. At least you will have fun with the incredible defensive mistakes.
PROFESSIONAL GOLF: When the European or Asian PGA tours schedule tournaments in Shanghai, they will probably be held at one of the following four clubs:
- Tomson Golf Club
1 Longdong Road, Pudong
Tel: 5855-5858 - Shanghai Binhai Golf
Binhai, Nanhui, Pudong
Tel: 5805-8888 - Enhance Anting Golf Club
6555 Boyuan Road, Jiading District - Grand Shanghai International Golf & Holiday Resort
Yangcheng Lake Holiday Zone, Kunshan, Jiangsu Province. Ph: 512 5789 1999
TRACK AND FIELD EVENTS: All important track meets are held in the Shanghai Indoor Stadium, Tianyaoqiao Lu 666, Xuhui (tel. 021/6426-6666 or 021/6426-6888, ext. 8268).
RUGBY: Shanghai Zhabei Stadium, Gonghe Xin Lu 475, Changning (tel. 021/5690-8609), is a popular venue for rugby tournaments.
CRICKET: The important cricket matches are held in Pudong at the Indoor and Outdoor Cricket, Biyun Lu, Pudong, Tel: 139 0189 9662.
BUY TICKETS ONLINE
Due to the huge amount of credit card fraud, buying tickets online is a relatively new concept in Shanghai, but it is slowly beginning to make inroads in the local community. For now, however, there is no English-language site for the purchase of tickets, and most popular expat events still require you to go down to the venue to buy the tickets beforehand. Some organizations will offer free ticket delivery, however, so do check. The ticket outlet below has an excellent reputation for service:
- Shanghai Cultural Information: http://www.culture.sh.cn/English/. Tel: 6217 2426.
