On March 13, the number of inbound foreign visitors at Shanghai’s ports exceeded 27,000 in a single day, hitting a record high.
Over the past weekend, three major events coincided in Shanghai: the 2026 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit, the China Appliance & Consumer Electronics Expo, and a concert by Dream Theater.
At this year’s Shanghai F1, international spectators accounted for 14% of the audience—roughly over 30,000 foreign attendees, up 3 percentage points from last year.
During the F1 weekend, inbound travel bookings on Trip.com’s international platform rose 20% year-on-year, with inbound travelers making up 36% of ticket buyers. Fans from South Korea, the United States, and Malaysia were among the most active. F1-related products sold out within a day, while search volume for “F1” on the platform surged by 120 times at its peak.
Hotel bookings across Shanghai surged 96% week-on-week over the weekend, with many properties doubling their room nights; one hotel even saw a 38-fold increase compared to the same period last week.
Once they secure tickets and accommodation, these visitors tend to stay until the event ends. Public data shows they remain in Shanghai for an average of three days, with strong consumer demand spreading rapidly into the city’s economy.
