SHIJIAZHUANG, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Acrobats from more than 20 countries will present over 30 performances at the 17th China Wuqiao International Circus Festival, slated to open in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, on Oct. 25.
The two-week festival will include an international acrobatics competition, circus carnivals, international circus forums, business performances and fairs for cultural programs cooperation. Events such as non-profit performances and shows in local scenic spots are newly added.
Acrobats are bringing the world's finest acrobatic arts and latest achievements to the festival, said Wang Rongli, deputy director of the provincial culture and tourism department.
Founded in 1987, the festival, held every two years, is regarded as one of China's longest-running art competitions and cultural festivals, while boasting the largest scale and the widest influence in the field of acrobatics.
The festival, together with the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival in Monaco and the World Circus Festival of Tomorrow in Paris, France, are known as the world's top three circus venues.
Wuqiao is considered the cradle of Chinese acrobatics and the performance style can be dated back some 2,000 years to the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-220 A.D.). In 2006, Wuqiao acrobatics was listed as a piece of state-level intangible cultural heritage.
