Opened in 2005, the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena is a marvel of modern engineering. This arena was purpose-built for the ATP World Tour Finals. It hosted the tournament from 2005 to 2008. The Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena was once the largest tennis venue in all of Asia. It held this title until the construction of the Olympic Green Tennis Centre in Beijing. Now, the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena hosts the Shanghai Masters. This is a prestigious ATP Tour Masters 1000 tournament.
The Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena sits on a sprawling 200-acre site in Maqiao Town. This is in the southwest of Shanghai, within the Minhang District. The arena’s most striking feature is its retractable roof. Eight petal-shaped sections open and close in a spiral pattern. This resembles a blooming magnolia, the official flower of Shanghai. This intricate mechanism can open or close the roof in just eight minutes. This allows the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena to host both indoor and outdoor events.
The Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena boasts a seating capacity of 13,779. It has hosted not only tennis matches, but also basketball games. In 2007, it welcomed the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic during their tour of China. The arena’s design allows it to adapt to other sports as well. With some modifications, it can accommodate volleyball, table tennis, and even gymnastics. The total construction cost of the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena was a staggering 2.4 billion RMB. This is roughly equivalent to $251 million USD. The complex houses 25 courts, including three main courts. These are the center court, grand stand court 2, and court 3. There are plans to expand the tennis park around the center court stadium. This expansion will bring the total number of courts to 40.
The design of the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena is the brainchild of Japanese architect Mitsuru Senda. His company, Environment Design Institute (EDI), won the international bid for the project in 2003. EDI specializes in designing environments for children. Their portfolio includes schools, museums, hospitals, parks, and sports facilities. Interestingly, each section of the retractable roof was constructed on the ground and tested before installation. This rigorous testing process mirrored methods used by China Aerospace. The Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena is a testament to innovative design and meticulous construction. It’s a true gem in Shanghai’s sporting landscape.