F1 Chinese Grand Prix draws 220,000 spectators

The Chinese Grand Prix, a key stop in the Formula One World Championship, wrapped up in Shanghai on Sunday, with attendance reaching around 220,000 spectators, according to the event operator.

The Shanghai event marks the second race of the 24-race Formula One season. Since its debut in the Chinese metropolis in 2004, the F1 Chinese Grand Prix has become a globally recognized sporting event and a significant highlight on the city's sports calendar. As this year coincides with the 75th anniversary of F1, the event drew massive interest.

Outside the event venue, a 32,000-square-meter area was transformed into a free, one-stop automotive culture experience for the public. The venue featured car displays, interactive zones, music stages, and food stalls, offering diverse activities for fans and families alike.

In addition, the Shanghai Jiading District, where the race venue is located, also holds the Shanghai Automobile Culture Festival simultaneously, introducing themed tourism routes and promotional packages combining race tickets with hotelstays and local attractions.

"During the F1 Chinese Grand Prix this year, spending on dining, accommodation, transportation, and entertainment reached a new high. The occupancy rate of major mid-to-high-end hotels in Jiading averaged over 95 percent," said Jin Fen, Deputy Director of the Jiading District Culture and Tourism Bureau.

According to event organizers, 10 percent of the spectators were international visitors, 20 percent were locals of Shanghai, and 70 percent traveled from across China.

"I've been in China (for) two months. I was traveling around. I love it. Shanghai is amazing," said a Russian visitor.

"I come from Jingdezhen City in Jiangxi Province. I've been watching the games for three days," said a Chinese boy.

"I arrived on Friday [to] visit the city, visiting several places like Zhujiajiao, Suzhou and the center of Shanghai," said a visitor from Italy.

Yang Yibin, chairman of the F1 Chinese Grand Prix operating team, highlighted the event's broader impact.

"The three-day event attracted approximately 220,000 spectators. Shanghai has established a coordinated mechanism integrating culture, sports, commerce, tourism, and exhibitions. For major events like this one, it is important to make good use of this mechanism to promote consumption and drive economic growth," he said.

F1 Chinese Grand Prix draws 220,000 spectators

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that the situation in Iran is "under total control" following violence linked to protests that spiked over the weekend.

Addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran, the foreign minister noted that armed terrorist groups had infiltrated the protests, attempting to divert them from their legitimate course. He claimed that evidence has been gathered showing Iranian security forces being shot at, with the aim of causing further casualties. He accused the United States and Israel of exploiting the unrest to interfere in Iran's internal affairs.

Araghchi further stated that the government is closely monitoring developments on the streets, emphasizing that "the situation has come under control." He also affirmed that internet services, curtailed during the unrest, would be restored after coordination with security agencies.

The government has engaged in dialogue with merchants and protest representatives and initiated reforms to address grievances related to price hikes and currency depreciation. Iran has taken a series of actions and measures to respond to the demands of peaceful demonstrators, the foreign minister said.

Earlier on Sunday, Araghchi said that clear evidence links recent riots and vandalism of public facilities in Iran to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. This came after former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned Mossad agents operating on Iran's streets in a social media post. The Iranian foreign minister asserted that police are being attacked by "terrorists" acting under the direction of Israeli operatives, whom Pompeo publicly acknowledged.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and U.S. sanctions.

Iranian foreign minister says situation "fully under control," accuses Israeli intelligence of stoking unrest