Shanghai Acrobatics Show Ticket

Chinese Acrobatics: An Ancient Art on a Modern Stage

Acrobatics has been performed in China for more than two thousand years. In the Han dynasty, court festivals already included a programme called the hundred entertainments, with tumbling, balancing and juggling, and over the centuries the art travelled from imperial courts to village fairs. Shanghai built its own acrobatic troupe in the early 1950s, and the city has been one of the world's leading centres of the art ever since.

This show gives that tradition a contemporary form: a story of love and the spirit of Shanghai ties the acts together, moving through old streets, natural landscapes and dreamlike worlds. Is the Shanghai acrobatics show worth it? For most visitors it is one of the most memorable evenings of the trip, and it works for every age and language.

The Acts: From Contortion to the Motorcycle Globe

Performers trained since childhood fold their bodies into impossible shapes, balance stacks of chairs and bowls, dive through hoops, juggle with hands and feet and fly above the stage on straps and silks. Each act builds in difficulty, and the precision of the group scenes is as impressive as the solo feats.

The climax is the motorcycle globe: several riders race at full speed inside a steel mesh sphere, crossing paths in every direction just centimetres apart. It is a hugely popular act in Chinese acrobatics and always brings the audience to its feet. Many of the acts are new creations made for this production, so even travellers who have seen Chinese acrobatics before will find something new.

Stage Design, Costumes and Music

3D multimedia projections turn the stage into city streets, forests, seas and fantasy landscapes, while hidden lifts and moving platforms let performers appear from unexpected places. The effect is closer to a modern stage spectacle than a traditional circus, and the transitions between scenes are fast enough that there is never a quiet moment.

The costumes mix French court style with Chinese elements: rococo silhouettes alongside long flowing dresses, cheongsam buttons with corseted waists, and leather jackets printed with Chinese dragons. Every act has its own original music, from hip-hop and tango rhythms to romantic ballads, played with traditional instruments such as the guzheng zither, the erhu fiddle, the horse-head fiddle, gongs and drums alongside piano, harp and violin.

Planning Your Evening: Venue, Seats and Timing

The show takes place in a purpose-built circus theatre in Jing'an District, north of the city centre. Parking is limited, so the easiest way to get there is Metro Line 1; your e-ticket shows the exact address and the station beside the theatre (use Exit 3). Arrive at least 20 minutes before the start to pass the entrance and find your seats.

The performance lasts about 60 to 100 minutes and usually starts in the early evening, which leaves time for dinner before or a stroll on the Bund afterwards. Section B, in the default option, offers good views of the whole stage; Section A, in another option, is closer to the performers. The best time to see the Shanghai acrobatics show is any evening, all year round, as it is indoors.