Shanghai is bracing itself for another fun-filled carnival season.

But while past carnivals saw crowds throng the city center, this summer thrill-seekers will have to travel to the suburban Formula One race track to sample all the fun of the fair.

Shanghai International Circuit Development and Management has teamed up with a Dubai entertainment group to put on the Freij Carnival, which will take place between July 7 and September 10.

The circuit, home to motorsport events including the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix and MotoGP Chinese Grand Prix, will help add some racing flair to the fair.

Admission to the carnival will also allow people to visit the circuit. The circuit's owners are keen to promote October's Formula One race and have planned two autosports show for July and August. A celebrity charity race will cap the fair in early September.

"From the circuit's point of view, we need a platform throughout this summer to pitch this year's Chinese Grand Prix and there's no better choice than a carnival when it comes to drawing the public's attention," said Yu Zhifei, the circuit's general manager.

The city was first entertained by a carnival in 2003 along Pudong's riverside Lujiazui area, and fun fairs have returned to Shanghai every summer since.

The 2005 World Carnival drew an estimated 1.5 million people over two months.

(Shanghai Daily June 5, 2006)