Construction of the new Shanghai Juss International Equestrian Center kicked off on Wednesday, and the venue is expected to be completed by April 2022.

Located at the Expo Park in the Pudong New Area, the center will become China's first permanent professional equestrian competition venue qualifying for hosting top-class international events. It will replace a temporary venue near China Art Museum and host the annual Global Champions Tour (GCT) showjumping event in the future.

With an investment of near 1.25 billion yuan (US$179 million), the center will have a total area of 3.32 hectares and a 90-meter-by-60-meter competition arena, with 5,000 seats for spectators. There will also be training and practice spaces, as well as high-standard stables.

According to Juss Group, the center will have a spacious underground area, including a garden. It will be connected to Houtan Station on Metro Line 19 in the future.

According to the center’s design company, Arcplus, the venue has a streamlined appearance, and will match the surrounding environment of the Expo Park.

Marco Danese, sport director of GTC, told Shanghai Daily in an earlier interview that to have a permanent equestrian venue in Shanghai is an important step to develop equine sports.

"When the event first came to Shanghai six years ago, China didn't seem to be that interested in the sport. Now the new venue shows a big change in attitude, and we hope to help grow not only the sport, but the equestrian industry in China, too," he said.

This year's GCT Shanghai leg will still be held in front of China Art Museum from May 3 to 5, with 50 world-class riders and 90 horses taking part.

Source: SHINE

Editor: Gao Wei