Zhuhai International Circuit
Zhuhai International Circuit at a glance
- Location
- Zhuhai, Guangdong Province
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 4.319 km (2.684 mi)
- Turns
- 14
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1996
- Owner
- Huafa Urban Operation (HK) Ltd
- Address
- Jin Ding Town
- Website
- zic.com.cn/zicen
Track map and layout
珠海国际赛车场 was China's first purpose-built permanent motor racing circuit, opened in November 1996 near the border with Macau. It was designed by the Australian firm Kinhill Engineers, the same consultancy behind the old Adelaide Formula 1 street circuit, and carries an FIA Grade 2 licence. The clockwise 4.319 km lap mixes a long 900-metre start/finish straight with a technical, medium-speed infield of nine right-handers and five lefts, giving GT and prototype cars a track that rewards both power down the straight and precise, flowing corner work through the middle sector.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix circuit | 4.32 km | full 14-turn permanent layout used for China GT and international events |
Events and race weekends
Zhuhai built its international reputation in the late 1990s and 2000s as a regular stop for the FIA GT Championship and, briefly in 2007, A1 Grand Prix, and it later hosted rounds of the Asian Le Mans Series and Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, including the 2016 4 Hours of Zhuhai. Today its calendar centres on China GT Championship and Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, alongside SRO GT Cup and F4 Chinese Championship rounds.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| China GT Championship | China GT | July | flagship domestic GT round |
| Porsche Carrera Cup Asia | Porsche Carrera Cup Asia | April | one-make GT support series |
| F4 Chinese Championship | F4 | October | junior single-seater series |
Getting there and parking
The circuit sits just outside Zhuhai city, close to the border crossings with Macau, and is served directly by Tangjiawan station on the Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Rail, within walking distance of the west grandstand. Several city bus routes also stop at the circuit gates.
- Zhuhai Jinwan Airport (ZUH)
- Macau International Airport (via border crossing) (MFM)
Tangjiawan station on the Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Rail is the easiest way in, dropping visitors an easy walk from the west grandstand without needing a car.
Hotels and camping near Zhuhai International Circuit
Most visitors base themselves in central Zhuhai, a short intercity-rail or taxi ride from the circuit, or cross the border to stay in Macau, roughly half an hour away, which has a far larger hotel supply and its own airport and ferry links.
Where to look
Central Zhuhai (Xiangzhou District, closest large hotel supply); Macau (across the border, roughly 30 minutes away, much larger choice of hotels).
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Zhuhai has a long history of track rental for corporate and manufacturer events and an on-site kart circuit added in 2004, but there is no confirmed, publicly advertised tourist track-day programme comparable to some other Chinese circuits - visiting drivers should contact the circuit directly for corporate or club-day availability.
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMP1 lap record | 1:22.296 | Franck Montagny | Peugeot 908 HDi FAP | 2010 |
| LMP2 lap record | 1:28.308 | Thomas Laurent | Oreca 05 | 2017 |
Spectator guide
The west grandstand, closest to the Tangjiawan rail station, overlooks the start/finish straight and pit complex, while further general-admission banking runs around parts of the infield, giving fans views of the circuit's flowing middle sector as well as the long main straight.
Seating
West grandstand (start/finish straight, closest to rail access); general-admission infield areas around the rest of the lap.
Best places to watch
The west grandstand for straight-line speed and pit action; infield banking for the technical corner sequences.
Weather
- July (China GT): hot, humid subtropical summer with frequent afternoon rain, daytime highs often above 32°C
History of Zhuhai International Circuit
China's first permanent circuit
Zhuhai International Circuit opened in November 1996 as China's first purpose-built permanent motor racing venue, at a time when the country had almost no home-grown circuit-racing culture. It was designed by the Australian consultancy Kinhill Engineers, the firm behind the old Adelaide Formula 1 street circuit, and carries an FIA Grade 2 licence, positioning it below Shanghai's Grade 1 F1 venue but well above a typical club track.
An international GT stronghold
Through the late 1990s and 2000s, Zhuhai became one of Asia's most important stops for international sportscar racing, hosting rounds of the FIA GT Championship from the late 1990s and, in 2007, a round of the short-lived A1 Grand Prix series. Its location close to Macau and Hong Kong made it an accessible venue for international teams travelling through the Pearl River Delta, and it later added rounds of the Asian Le Mans Series and Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, including the 2016 4 Hours of Zhuhai.
A domestic GT hub today
Ownership passed to Huafa Urban Operation in 2024. The circuit's modern calendar is built around China GT Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and junior single-seater racing in F4 Chinese Championship, alongside an on-site kart track added in 2004 and ongoing use for manufacturer and corporate track events. While it no longer draws the international sportscar grids it once did, Zhuhai remains one of China's most established circuits and a key venue for the country's domestic GT scene.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Zhuhai International Circuit?+
The circuit is 4.319 km (2.684 miles) long with 14 turns (nine right-handers and five lefts), run clockwise.
Is Zhuhai the oldest permanent circuit in China?+
Yes. It opened in November 1996 as China's first purpose-built permanent motor racing circuit.
How do you get to Zhuhai International Circuit?+
Tangjiawan station on the Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Rail is within walking distance of the west grandstand, making rail the easiest way in without a car.
Is Zhuhai International Circuit close to Macau?+
Yes, the circuit sits close to the border crossings with Macau, and many visitors stay across the border in Macau, roughly 30 minutes away, for its larger hotel supply.
What series race at Zhuhai today?+
China GT Championship and Porsche Carrera Cup Asia are the headline modern events, alongside SRO GT Cup and F4 Chinese Championship rounds; the circuit previously hosted FIA GT Championship and Asian Le Mans Series races.
Can the public drive Zhuhai International Circuit?+
There is no confirmed, publicly advertised tourist track-day programme; the circuit is used for corporate and manufacturer track rental and has an on-site kart circuit, but visitors should contact the venue directly for driving access.
Other tracks nearby
- Guia Circuit (Macau Grand Prix) · 19 km · street circuit
- Hong Kong Central Harbourfront Circuit · 63 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Guangdong International Circuit · 126 km · road course
- Haitang Bay Circuit · 598 km · street circuit
- Penbay International Circuit · 712 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Lihpao Racing Park · 759 km · road course
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.