China Cup International Regatta
China Cup International Regatta takes place Late Oct - early Nov 2026 (18th edition; confirm on chncup.com) in Shenzhen, China. The dress code is Casual sportswear on the water; smart casual for the shoreside festival and opening ceremony. Typical cost ranges from 350 to 1200 EUR per person.
China's largest big-boat regatta, based at Daya Bay east of Shenzhen, where an established international grand-prix contingent races alongside a fast-growing domestic fleet. The organisers deliberately pair the racing with a large public shore festival of exhibitions, concerts and try-sailing sessions aimed at building the sport in China. It feels less like a closed yacht-club event and more like a waterfront expo with racing attached.
- When
- Late Oct - early Nov 2026 (18th edition; confirm on chncup.com)
- Where
- Shenzhen, China
- Dress code
- Casual sportswear on the water; smart casual for the shoreside festival and opening ceremony
- Cost
- Typical cost ranges from 350 to 1200 EUR per person.
- Weather
- 20 - 27C, pleasant and mostly dry with a reliable northeast monsoon breeze
- When to book
- Entries open around mid-year; book Dapeng or Shenzhen hotels 6 weeks out and check China visa or visa-free transit rules early
- Getting there
- SZX (Shenzhen Bao'an), about 1.5 h to Daya Bay; HKG is a viable alternative
- Where to stay
- Sheraton Dameisha Resort Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai
- Official site
- https://www.chncup.com/
How to attend
The shoreside festival, exhibitions and concerts at Daya Bay are free and open to the public. Boat entries, crew berths and beginner sailing experiences are arranged through chncup.com, with entries opening around mid-year. Dates have moved between late October and November in recent editions and the 2026 notice of race was only published mid-year, so confirm on the official site before booking flights.
The shoreside festival, exhibitions and concerts at Daya Bay are free and open to the public, so there is nothing to book; the official site handles boat entries only.
Insider tip
The regatta runs beginner sailing experiences and open-boat sessions alongside the racing, which is the easiest way for a complete non-sailor to get on the water at a major event.
Get inside China Cup International Regatta
Booking matters here: entries open around mid-year; book Dapeng or Shenzhen hotels 6 weeks out and check China visa or visa-free transit rules early. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 573 more events across the season.
Free while in beta. One email when your invitation is ready, nothing else.