YourCultureGuideToTheMagicCity

One race down, 23 to go in 2025.

VCARB has arrived in China for round two of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship. Yuki and Isack are keen to hit the Shanghai International Circuit with the momentum gained from Australia.

To celebrate the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN CHINESE GRAND PRIX 2025, VCARB are diving into why Shanghai is known as the Magic City. Music, architecture, history, the city has it all.

VCARB presents: The Cultural Guide to Shanghai.

Shanghai’sMusicGoesUnderground

Shanghai’s music culture is one of the richest and most diverse in the world. The city has a buzzing underground scene of electric music and jazz, fusing traditional Chinese instruments with Western genres like rock and roll to create a lively hybrid sound known as Mandopop. Some of China’s most successful musicians include Jay Chou, Jacky Cheung and Eason Chan, who all embrace the dynamic sound of Mandopop.

If rock music is more your thing, Wang Feng has you covered. A Shanghai native with incredible vocals and powerful lyrics that have captured the city’s attention for over two decades. Traditional Chinese jazz found its roots in Shanghai, with clubs dating back to the 1920s still scattered across the city.

Underground In China

Shanghai will celebrate 20 years of the JZ Festival in 2025, the largest jazz festival in China. Concrete & Grass is Shanghai’s love song to the independent music scene and has hosted global musicians, such as A$AP Ferg, ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER and Daddy Yankee at their annual festivals.

There’s no shortage of music and entertainment in Shanghai, but if that doesn’t quite satisfy your soul, we’ve got you covered.

ShanghaiontheBigScreen

Shanghai isn’t just a bustling city of music and festivals. The Magic City is the birthplace of some of the most famous actors in the world and the setting of many Hollywood blockbusters.

Gong Li, became an icon in Shanghai’s movie scene, featuring in movies such as Red Sorghum (1987) and Raise the Red Lantern (1991). Chow Yun-fat is one of the most recognisable stars in Asia thanks to his roles in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and The Killer (1989).

A culturally important movie for global cinema was Shanghai Express (1932), which showed the natural beauty of China to the Western world, set on a train from Peking to Shanghai. Famous modern movies featuring Shanghai as a backdrop are Mission: Impossible III (2006), Iron Man 3 (2013), Lust, Caution (2007) and In the Mood for Love (2000).

SightseeinginShanghai

Shanghai is the biggest city in Asia and the third-biggest in the world, so there’s no shortage of things to see. Here’s our selection of the greatest feats of architecture in Shanghai.

The Bund is a waterfront area that mixes modernity with the colonial era of China. Gothic, Art Deco and Baroque structures sit alongside the modern skyline next to the Huangpu River for one of the most striking contrasts in any major city.

The Shanghai Tower is the second-tallest building in the world, reaching 632 metres into the sky. Its design is a symbol of the rapid growth of China and is an absolute must-see - not that it’s hard to miss! In the same Lujiazui district is the Jin Mao Tower, an 88-story tower with a crown designed to look like a pagoda and symbolise the traditional buildings of China.

Shanghai Skyline

The Oriental Pearl Tower is one of the most unique-looking buildings in China. Its futuristic and bulbous appearance stands out against the rest of the city and offers some of the best views of the city from its observation deck. From the top of the tower, you’ll likely see the Shanghai Museum in all of its glory, shaped like a Chinese cauldron to represent the concept of heaven and earth.

Trust us, if you get bored of Shanghai, just look up. You’re bound to see something remarkable.

Checking Out The Sights

ShanghaiSport

Chances are, if you’re reading this, that you’re visiting Shanghai for the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN CHINESE GRAND PRIX 2025 (we don’t blame you!). But aside from Formula One, Shanghai is a hub for global sporting events that are worth checking out.

If racket sports are your thing, you can’t go far wrong with the Shanghai Masters, one of the top events in tennis. The Shanghai Badminton Open is also a key venue on the calendar.

China Settings

You’ve likely heard of Yao Ming, one of the most famous basketball players of all time. Well, he began his career playing for the Shanghai Sharks and now advocates for basketball in China. Zheng Qinwen was the first-ever Chinese singles tennis player to win gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics and is currently ranked 9th in the world for women’s tennis. The Chinese Super League is a growing football series in China and gained global attention when Brazilian players Hulk and Oscar signed for Shanghai SIPG.

Shanghai is at the forefront of modern culture and lifestyle in China. It’s a place you cannot afford to skip and we hope this handy guide will provide you with a great base setup for your travels.

See you in the paddock from 21-23 March!