This October, the Baoshan Riverside will roar back to life as ten elite teams from over ten countries and regions—including China, France, the UAE, Italy, and Sweden—bring together more than 20 top drivers to deliver another round of high-speed, high-octane F1H2O action.

At a press conference on August 27 announcing the 2025 UIM F1H2O World Championship Grand Prix of Shanghai, along with the National Day series of events at the Shanghai International Cruise Tourism Resort, organizers confirmed that the races will take place from October 2 to 4 at Baoshan Riverside. The championship is hosted by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) and co-organized by the Water Sports Administration of the General Administration of Sport of China, the China Water Ski, Underwater & Powerboat Federation (CSUPF), the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Sports, and the Baoshan District People’s Government. The event was officially launched by Ding Li, Deputy Governor of Baoshan District; Cheng Meihong, First-Level Inspector and Party Committee Member of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism; and Luo Wenhua, Party Committee Member and Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Sports.

“This year, we are once again partnering with the Union Internationale Motonautique, raising the bar with higher competition standards, richer event content, and an enhanced service experience to deliver an international festival that blends speed, culture, tourism, and technology,” said a representative from the relevant Baoshan authorities during the press conference.

The F1H2O World Championship Grand Prix of Shanghai is more than just a sporting event; it is a prime opportunity to showcase the city’s vitality. By bringing high-powered water racing to Shanghai, the event fills a gap in the city’s aquatic motorsports scene and creates a dynamic “land-and-water” synergy with the F1 racing circuit, offering a multi-dimensional sporting experience.

Enhanced Facilities and Services for an Even Better Fan Experience

This year’s races will take place in the inner waters of Changtan, a site with superior hydrological conditions compared to last year, fully meeting the professional standards of top-tier international powerboat competitions and allowing drivers to perform at their best. By optimizing sightlines and coordinating waterfront layouts, organizers have carefully designed a multi-layered viewing environment that maximizes both comfort and immersion for spectators. The venue is arranged from east to west with open viewing areas, general spectator zones, and VIP boxes. A total of 62 mobile restrooms are positioned throughout the course and surrounding areas, with dynamic cleaning protocols in place to ensure a pristine environment. For the first time this year, additional free-access viewing zones will be available under controlled safety conditions. Attendance is expected to exceed 3,000 spectators per day, surpassing last year’s numbers.

To cater to the diverse interests of both locals and visitors, tickets for the October 3 qualifying and sprint races, as well as the October 4 opening ceremony and main event, are now on sale, starting at 160 RMB, with early-bird discounts available. Additionally, the championship has officially joined the consumer voucher program, allowing residents and tourists to claim sports-viewing vouchers via Alipay in advance. These vouchers can be applied at checkout for extra savings on top of existing discounts. Through this range of promotions, the event ensures accessible ticket options for all audiences, making this high-level sporting spectacle more inclusive, engaging, and exciting.

Diverse Activities Fueling a Tourism Boom

During the championship, Baoshan will fully leverage its tourism resources across the district. Through a variety of activities, the district aims to deliver a cultural and tourism extravaganza that blends global standards with local characteristics, turning the excitement of the races into broader cultural and tourism engagement.

It will present three high-profile ceremonies—the opening ceremony, the awards gala, and the appreciation banquet—at the highest standards, setting a benchmark for the F1H2O series. Four major highlight activities are planned:

l  A zero-carbon tree-planting initiative at Wusong Paotaiwan National Wetland Park, creating the “Friendship Red Maple Forest” and promoting environmental responsibility.

l  F1H2O Future Stars: The Hongyan Environmental Action, building a bridge between young people and international racers for dialogue and inspiration.

l  The “Baoshan Elegance” half-day tour offers a stroll through the historic Baoshan Temple and Qiyuan, and a peek into the treasures of the International Folk Arts Museum.

l  The F1H2O Carnival, merging water sports with urban lifestyle experiences in a citywide celebration, deepens the immersive cultural and tourism experience.

Additionally, the “Baoshan Heritage” themed exhibition will serve as a cultural landmark, featuring public art installations and live intangible cultural heritage performances. Visitors can explore the artistic pulse of the waterfront while gaining an in-depth appreciation of Baoshan’s century-long legacy in port development, industry, and technological innovation.

High-end Sports Equipment Summit Set for Post-Championship

One of this year’s biggest highlights will be the 2025 Global Summit on High-End Sports Equipment in the Context of Globalization and the Yangtze River Delta Water Sports Festival. The summit will officially open on the morning of October 9, featuring a series of high-profile ceremonies. These include strategic partnership agreements signed by Tianrong F1H2O Club and Baochem, the launch of the Shanghai Sports Equipment Carbon Fiber Industry Alliance, and the announcement of the UIM’s new strategic partners in China. It also features keynote speeches and multiple themed forums focusing on topics such as advanced materials, R&D in high-end sports equipment, and the integration of sports with tourism. By bringing together international resources and local strengths, the summit aims to drive the high-quality growth of the water sports industry.

Beyond the summit, the Yangtze River Delta Water Sports Festival will run from October 5 to 7 at the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal. The event will showcase thrilling water sports demonstrations, product trials, brand launches, and media engagement—creating a full-on celebration of the excitement of water sports. Outside the second-floor ballroom, a dedicated exhibition area will also be set up to highlight boat brands, the latest water sports products, and breakthrough technologies through video displays and takeaway materials.