Shanghai Stadium

　　Shanghai Stadium employs many of the world’s leading architectural technologies, boasts a unique and modern design, and is set within a vast, lush green square adorned with colorful flowers. Resembling a giant white magnolia flower cradled by green leaves, it has become an iconic landmark of Shanghai in the new millennium, adding a fresh charm to the city at the turn of the century.

　　Shanghai Stadium features a 500-seat presidential stand, a 300-seat press box, and 100 luxury boxes, with a capacity of 56,000 spectators for sports events and 43,000 for large-scale cultural performances. In 1998, it was named Shanghai’s Best Sports Architecture; in 1999, it won a Gold Award as one of Shanghai’s Top Ten Classic Architectural Landmarks celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of New China.

　　Covering a land area of 190,000 square meters with a built-up area of 170,000 square meters and supporting green space of 77,000 square meters, the entire structure is circular with a diameter of 300 meters and a total height of over 70 meters. At its center lies a standard 105 by 68-meter north-south oriented football field, covered with all-weather turf imported from the United States. Surrounding the pitch are nine plastic running tracks manufactured by Italy’s Mondo; the venue is equipped with all necessary facilities for major sporting competitions. Shanghai Stadium served as the main venue for the 8th National Games of China in 1997. With a construction cost of over one billion yuan and a three-year building period, it remains one of the most modern, largest, and internationally standardized comprehensive stadiums in China. It offers state-of-the-art facilities and nearly 1,600 parking spaces.

　　The stadium’s exterior features an internationally advanced saddle-shaped, long-span cantilevered steel space frame roof structure, covered with Safcote-coated fiberglass membrane. The roof spans up to 73.5 meters, the longest in the world. The spectator stands are equipped with rain- and sun-sheltering steel structures, while the seats are made from earthquake-resistant and fireproof materials. Dedicated boxes are located between the second and fourth tiers. The facility also includes an athletic track and a football training field. Not only is it a uniquely designed sports venue, but it also functions as a multi-purpose sightseeing destination, integrating seamlessly with the adjacent 10,000-seat Indoor Stadium and Shanghai Swimming Center to form a modern sports complex in downtown Shanghai. The stadium is outfitted with multifunctional turf protection panels for hosting large-scale cultural performances and commercial events of varying scales. It serves as a comprehensive sports facility that combines athletic competitions, cultural performances, fitness and entertainment, accommodation, business offices, and shopping exhibitions.