Local police said investigations are underway for the incident that happened Monday evening, in which the 62-year-old driver, surnamed Fan, was arrested. The incident occurred a day before a major airshow opened in the city, Kyodo News reported.
The Hong Kong paper said the suspect's motive has not been disclosed. The sports center is a popular spot for local joggers and walkers, with private cars prohibited from entering the site.
Videos posted online immediately after the accident showed numerous people lying motionless in pools of blood. By late Monday night, Chinese media reports and images on social media had been deleted, and it is suspected that authorities were controlling information before the air show started.
The Chinese military's new J-35 stealth fighter and J-15 carrier-based fighter jets are among the aircraft shown at the biennial China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, which will run through Sunday.