The curtain closed on the 5th China International Circus Festival on Nov 23, ending a week of thrilling entertainment in Hengqin New Area and beginning of a city tour until Dec 1.

The State-approved festival, which opened on Nov 16 at Chimelong Hengqin International Circus City, consisted of a wide range of circus and acrobatic performances involving extreme sports, aerial stunts, clown shows, and magic.

Closing ceremony

Twenty-five circus troupes from some 20 countries staged a record number of tricks with greater difficulties and on a larger scale than those of any previous shows.

The Journey of Life-Man Handstand Skills, Twirling in Time-Ball Juggling from China, White-Gothic-Hand to Hand (Ukraine), and other performances were staged a second time at the closing ceremony.

Other remarkable scream-inducing performances included hanging high on a rising silk rope and archery performed only with feet. A combination of basketball, trampoline, parkour, and hip-hop were seen regularly on the international stages.

Freestyle basketball

Peter Dubinsky, CEO of US-based Firebird Productions Inc and an esteemed guest at the ceremony, hailed this event as the best in its history in both size and form.

There were deep communications and interactions between western and eastern arts and cultures at the event, making it an inspiration for further circus innovation. Newcomers to the industry such as the African Golden Diamond Team began their climb up the ladder to other stages around the world.

This year, circus fans in Hong Kong and residents of Macao received special shows.

Journey of Life-Man Handstand Skills

Industry elites attracted to the event included Urs Pilz, vice-president of the Monte-Carlo Circus Festival; Eugene Chaplin, son of world-famous comic actor Charlie Chaplin and president of Switzerland's International Comedy Film Festival; and Sun Lili, chief creative officer of the China National Acrobatic Troupe and vice president of the Beijing Acrobatics Association.

The festival was sponsored by the PRC Ministry of Culture and Guangdong Provincial People's Government and organized by the Zhuhai government and Guangdong Chimelong Group.

Defying gravity

Aerial stunts [Photos by Zeng Yao / Zhuhai Daily]