ANIMALS, actors, clowns and acrobats from China, Cuba, Canada, Kazakhstan, the USA, Russia, the UK, Thailand, Ethiopia, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, the Ukraine, Ecuador, Argentina and the Netherlands will bring a potpourri of marvel and excitement to Hengqin New Area. The 1st China International Circus Festival at Chimelong International Ocean Resort is the venue for a large number of world-class circus acts from Nov 20 to Dec 1.

China -- 'Gorgeous Girls -- Diabolo'T

his act is a unique combination of acrobatic diabolo and Peking Opera Huadan. The combination of traditional costumes with the highest-level diabolo makes for a fantastic performance. They won the Gold Clown Prize at the 37th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, President Award at the 26th International Circus Festival of Tomorrow, plus many more.

Cuba -- Bar Act

Undeniably one of the hottest acts in the festival, this combination of Russian bar act, bar, hot Latin music, and toned men will have you on your feet dancing.

Canada -- Solo Trapeze

This is a high-level act, sexy and dynamic. Darya's effortless and elegant dance trapeze act is both breath-taking and captivating. She won the festival's Cirque De L'avenir gold medal and a Saint Petersburg, Russia, Circus Prize.

Kazakhstan -- Exotic Knight

Kazakh riders add a lot of exotic elements to the stage … the brave soldiers on the horses are coming …The flowing horsemanship and valiant actors draw loud applause.

United States -- Sasha

Alexandra "Sasha" was born in New York City in 1994 to world-travelling acrobatic parents. She began training at age 7 and performed in her first show shortly thereafter as the lead in Imagination Entertainment's iL CiRCo production show. Since then, she has performed and headlined in countless production shows around the world. She is considered one of the most talented acrobats in her field of contortion and balancing and is recognised for her stage presence and the originality of her elements and choreography that set her far above the rest.

China -- Tiger Taming

The white tiger is a rare pigmentation variant of the Bengal tiger well-known for white fur. There are only around 200 white tigers in the world. Thirteen of them perform a splendid act.

Germany -- Silk Act Elisabeth Schmidt

The traditional silk discipline has always been a staple of any circus festival. Elisabeth gives her new twist to the art. A combination of single trapeze and traditional silk is spellbinding. Elisabeth won Best-Newcomer-Award Germany 2012 and Bronze Medal Circus Festival Wiesbaden.

Clown [Photo / Zhuhai Daily]

Russia -- Funny Monkey

Unicycling, juggling, hand-balancing, bicycling, comedy and a monkey! This is one act with Aydyn and his animal partner Roni really has it all.

UK -- Messoudi Brothers

There are duo hand-balancing acts, sometimes even a trio, but a quartet? This act takes hand-balancing to the extreme. Strength and grace define this world class performance. Four brothers from the Messoudi family perform with acrobatic tricks and practise hand-stand exercises.

Thailand -- Elephant Taming

From the mysterious world of Thailand comes a fabulous troupe of elephants with expertly choreographed and performing tricks.

China -- Saint Fight - Hoops

Hoop-jumping with a motorised twist combines warrior dance choreography and completely original hoop-jumping. They won Gold Clown Prize at 37th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, etc.

Ethiopia -- Abyssinia Voltige Act

The African Dream Circus company performers are from Addis Ababa. Because they had to rehearse in difficult conditions outside, it took four years to perfect the act and they did it without any safety rigging. In creating this act, they have done all they could to lift to world-class level. The performers won the Bronze Medal at the International Circus Festival in Moscow in 2013.

Italy -- Willer Nicolodi

Willer, a ventriloquist from Italy, is a star in circus. Audience will fall for his excellent performance which overcomes language barriers. He won the Bronze Clown Prize in Monte Carlo International Circus Festival and Gold Prize in International Festival of Art Izhevsk Russia.

Russia -- Aerial Russian Swing

A completely original take on the trapeze discipline combines high-flying acrobatics with Russian swing, trapeze, and ring all mixed into one.

Germany -- Housch-ma-housch

Semen Schuster (whose clown character is Housch-Ma-Housch) is an eccentric clown who has been wowing audiences since graduating from the Circus School of Kiev. A winner of a number of prizes (including the Grockland "Golden Grock") at the 26th Festival Mondial de Cirque de Demain and the Silver Lion at the China Wuqiao International Circus Festival, Housch combines juggling, magic, dance, mime, and charm to create memorable circus and cabaret acts.

Thailand -- Orangutans Taming

A combination of an unusual ping pong competition and a fabulous magic wheel act. This comedy is performed by the super stars -- Orangutans!

Russia -- Gibadulins Juggler

It takes a lot to create a world-class juggling act unlike any other. That is what the Gibadullins have done with one of the oldest circus disciplines.

Switzerland -- Solo Trapeze

Pure beauty describes this solo trapeze act with hypnotic swinging acrobatics high above.

Thailand -- Parrot Taming

A group of parrots with singing, comedy, sport and even driving, are able to do all of these things that sound impossible.

Ukraine -- Gerasimenko Clowns

This hilarious clown act by Ukraine artists Konstantin and Oleg Gerasimenko combines all the elements of a classic clown show with a finale that must be seen to be believed.

Ecuador -- Wire Act

High energy, dynamic, one misstep and it would be disastrous for these performers, but they throw caution to the wind and laugh in the face of danger.

Russia -- Dog Act

Poodles and saint bernards romp and play across the stage.

Hungary -- Golden Power

This act is described as beautiful, elegant and breath-taking, a combination of power and beauty.

Russia -- Funny Stilts

He is short and she is a tall butterfly. This original comedy routine is definitely out of the ordinary.

Canada -- Cyr Wheel

This act is described as hypnotising, graceful and passionate.

Argentina -- Duo Morosof

Blancaluz Capella and Rafael Moraes express their absolute trust and intimacy throughout their performance of a classic act.

US -- Bello Nock

The world-renowned clown graces the Zhuhai International Circus Festival with his special brand of clowning and antics.

Canada -- Flag Man

This act was chosen to represent the flag of his own country. In the official celebrations of 400 years of the city of Quebec, Dominic has developed and perfected the art of the human flag. He presents graceful and difficult action through handling a pole. Following the rhythm of music, sometimes he acts like walking in the air, sometimes like flying. He has been awarded several circus festival prizes, including the Special Prize, Monte-Carlo 2009.

Russia -- Ground Russian Swing

This act combines artful, traditional dance with high-level Russian swing.

Netherlands -- Nightmares Magic

The Nightmares act is the winning act of the World Championship of Magic in the category Stage Illusions. The original and illusions are the décor during the act which tells the story. Marcel, the main actor, is the antihero who is experiencing a nightmare. During the World Championship, 2,500 fellow magicians gave Marcel and his team a standing ovation. They won many awards including World Champion Illusionism, FISM 2012, and Grand Prix Winner Dutch National Magic Convention 2010.

Tickets are available online at www.circusfestival.com.cn and www.chinmelong.com. VIP tickets are 680 yuan ($111.60), first-class tickets 380 yuan ($62.40), second-class tickets 280 yuan ($46) and ordinary tickets 180 yuan ($29.50).