Check local listings or your hotel desk for current sports in town. The Chinese National Basketball League (CNBL) has been building a strong following across China since its inception in 1994. Each team is allowed to hire two foreign players (usually Americans). The powerful Shanghai Sharks (home team of 2.26m/7 ft. 5 in. Yao Ming, now playing for the Houston Rockets in the NBA) play most of their home basketball games November through April in Luwan Stadium, Zhaojiabang Lu 128 (tel. 021/6427-8673 or 021/6467-5358). Tickets are ¥30 to ¥200 ($4.30-$29/£2.15-£15). Shanghai Stadium, Tianyaoqiao Lu 666, Xuhui (tel. 021/6426-6666 or 021/6426-6888, ext. 8268), is the usual venue for big sporting events (soccer, track, and field). Shanghai Zhabei Stadium, Gonghe Xin Lu 475, Changning (tel. 021/5690-8609), is a popular venue for rugby tournaments.
Formula One Fever -- Formula One racing officially roared into China with the Shanghai Grand Prix in September 2004. Located in the northwestern suburb of Anting in Jiading County, about 40 minutes from People's Square, the Shanghai International Circuit (Shanghai Guoji Saichechang), which will host F1 races until 2010, features a stunning track in the contours of a Chinese character, and a 10-story glass-and-steel grandstand. Tickets range from ¥180 ($26/£13) for practice sessions to ¥3,980 ($569/£285) for top seats overlooking the finish line on the last day. For more information, call tel. 021/9682-6999 or 021/6330-5555; or visit www.icsh.sh.cn. Tourist bus line 6B (¥10/$1.45/73p) makes the run to Anting from the Shanghai Sightseeing Bus Center, located under the no. 5 staircase at Gate 12 of the Shanghai Stadium (Tianyaoqiao Lu 666; tel. 021/6426-5555).
