The 2026 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix has become one of the hottest sporting events in China, with crowds flocking to the Shanghai International Circuit and merchandise selling out as F1's appeal surges.
The three-day motor race officially kicked off on Friday, and spectators began streaming into the venue from 09:30, with the reopening of the E grandstand -- capable of seating more than 4,000 -- helping fuel excitement as fans began cheering on their favorite drivers.
"The atmosphere is great. I hope to see [Lewis] Hamilton on the podium," one fan said.
This season marks the new start for the world-class motorsport, with sweeping changes to car design, aerodynamics and power units. Under the new regulations, cars are smaller and lighter, while hybrid systems now deliver half of their output from electric energy.
"They're trying to adjust to the new rules, so it's a bit interesting for the fans, also," said a spectator.
The event has also turned into a commercial success. Limited-edition merchandise at pop-up stores has seen brisk sales, including Disney-themed collectibles and Lego models of the new cars.
"It is for the children. I like it very much. It's very great. [It is] like a party, like a very special occasion and a good holiday," said another fan.
Tickets for the Grand Prix sold out three months in advance.
Organizers expect about 230,000 spectators over the three-day event, with roughly 14 percent traveling from overseas.
Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix drives fan frenzy China
China's first 500-kV cross-border alternating-current power interconnection project entered service Monday, creating the highest voltage grid tie between the two countries and advancing Belt and Road energy cooperation.
The project raises two-way power transfer capacity between the two countries from 50,000 kW to 1.5 million kW, enabling the annual transmission of about 3 billion kWh of clean electricity, roughly 30 times the capacity of previous lines, according to China Southern Power Grid.
As the largest cross-border grid project and the highest-voltage power link between China and Laos, it connects southwest China's Yunnan Province with Oudomxay and Luang Namtha provinces in northern Laos.
Cross-border electricity trading began as the project entered operation. About 4.81 million kWh of power from clean energy bases in northern Laos was transmitted to Yunnan through the new line, marking a more regular and institutionalized phase of power connectivity between the two countries.
It is also the first time an overseas new energy project has participated in China's electricity market, the company said. The power involved in the transaction came from a large mountain photovoltaic project in Laos, one of the core supporting power sources for the interconnection line.
"This project is the cross-border power grid project with the highest voltage level between China and Laos. Leveraging the China-Laos power grid interconnection and the power markets in southern China, surplus hydropower from Laos can be transmitted to China during the rainy season, while China can supply supplemental power to northern Laos during the dry season. This project represents yet another landmark achievement between China and Laos in deepening power cooperation and jointly advancing the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative," said Li Jingru, general manager of Electricite du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T), a joint venture of China Southern Power Grid and Lao state-run Electricite du Laos.
The solar project has an average annual power generation capacity of about 1.65 billion kWh. In 2026, it is expected to transmit about 1.1 billion kWh of solar power across the border, supporting energy complementarity between the two countries.
"In the future, efforts will be made to further promote normalized cross-border electricity trading, meet the trading needs such as electricity transmission from Laos to China's Yunnan, from China's Yunnan to Laos, and from Laos to China's Guangdong, and facilitate the optimal allocation of energy resources in the Lancang-Mekong region," said Li Minhong, marketing director of China Southern Power Grid.
Construction of the interconnection project began in late February last year. Spanning a total length of 177.5 km, the transmission line includes a 145-km Chinese section and a 32.5-km Lao section.
New China-Laos power link expands transfer capacity 30-fold, boosts electricity trading
