| tion_start --> | | | | characters is composed of two characters, Shang |
| Like the country itself, China's Shanghai International | | | | and Hai, and Tilke used the first character, Shang, |
| Circuit endeavors to be big, ultra-modern, and still pay | | | | meaning "above" or "on top" as the basis of the circuit |
| homage to tradition. Finished in 2004 to the tune of | | | | layout. |
| $450 million (Bahrain cost only $150 mil), it managed to | | | | Chinese officials went all out to promote the first |
| showcase all the above and was built in record time. | | | | Grand Prix held at the circuit. There were "F1 Babe" |
| Within 18 months and with the efforts of 3,000 | | | | contests in every province (China had banned beauty |
| engineers working around the clock, the circuit held its | | | | pageants until just the year before), state television |
| first Formula 1 Grand Prix on what was formerly flat | | | | company CCTV stepped up its F1 coverage to a |
| swampland in 2004. | | | | remarkable five programs a week, and FIA President |
| Located far from the mega skyscrapers of Pudong, a | | | | Max Mosley himself even praised the Chinese circuit |
| district of Shanghai that itself sprung up from | | | | as "absolutely the best one so far," adding, "they did a |
| swampland just a few decades ago, the circuit is | | | | great job." |
| 20km from downtown Shanghai in the Jiading district | | | | The addition of Shanghai onto the F1 Grand Prix |
| near the site of the Shanghai International Automobile | | | | calendar has been a win-win for all involved. The |
| City. Although seating is for over 200,000 spectators, | | | | Formula One Group gets to raise the public interest of |
| officials decided early on to sell only 150,000 tickets so | | | | the sport in the country with the largest population in |
| as to avoid congestion problems with people traveling | | | | the world, the drivers get a good technical challenge, |
| to the circuit and allay concerns over safety. | | | | advertisers get access to the Chinese middle class in |
| The man behind the design of the track was none | | | | a country with no tobacco advertising laws, |
| other than prolific German architect Hermann Tilke, | | | | international car manufacturers get to raise their profile |
| whose company Tilke Engineering has been involved in | | | | in the world's largest car market, and the Chinese |
| many high-profile new circuits around the world. The | | | | government too gets to raise its own profile on the |
| design inspiration for the track came from the city of | | | | international stage for hosting such a big event. |
| Shanghai itself. The name of the city in Chinese | | | | |