More than 200 ace acrobatic teams from 18 countries debuted at the opening ceremony of the 4th China International Circus Festival on Nov 16, readying themselves for knockout performances two days later.

Acrobats at opening ceremony [Photo by Zhu Xi / Zhuhai Daily]

The festival at Chimelong Hengqin International Circus City until Nov 25 has 25 competitive performances. Most have already won awards at world-class festivals. The Italian Pellegrini Brothers Hand-to-Hand, for instance, won the Golden Clown Award from the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, and Ukrainian One Man's Dream-Hand Balancing and Swedish Tact-Teeterboard were Gold Award winners at the Tomorrow and Future Circus Festival.

Furthermore, Jumpers on Fast Track by the Grechuskin Troupe from Russia took gold at the Moscow International Youth Circus Festival. Unlike conventional trampoline acrobatics, the performance integrates comprehensible plots and humorous elements into the show. The acrobats challenge the law of gravity with a series of twisting, turning, and somersaults. The visual impact is further enhanced by highly difficult movements including overlapping bodies and a human pyramid to showcase the strength, balance, coordination, and rhythm of the human body.

Equally stunning is The Courageous – Human Juggling performed by acrobats from Shandong, with the youngest among them aged just 12. Without the aid of stage props, they perform side somersaults and stand upright on one another's shoulders after a 360-degree turn in order to increase technical difficulty and enhance attraction. Traditional Chinese martial arts and Peking Opera will also be part of the show.

Another highlight is Kevin James, a household name in the US. Dubbed King of the Original and Magical Inventor, the French-born American magician brings cosmic magical performances to spectators along with other world-renowned magicians.