The ninth China Wuqiao International Circus Festival opened Friday in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, featuring competitions and performances, as well as exhibitions of circus paintings and Chinese acrobatics.

Gu Xiulian, vice-chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Chen Kuiyuan, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended the opening ceremony.

The 26 performances to be staged by nearly 400 acrobats from 14 countries during the 10-day festival were selected from among nearly 100 candidate performances from acrobatic troupes from more than 30 countries and regions.

The judging committee is made up of nine foreign experts and two Chinese scholars. The top prize will be 50,000 yuan (US$6,100).

The organizers will also invite domestic and overseas audiences to visit Wuqiao, known as the "birthplace of Chinese acrobatics," and watch performances by local people.

The festival, initiated in 1987, is one of the three most important acrobatic competitions in the world. So far, it has attracted more than 300 performances from over 40 countries and regions.

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 3002)