A smorgasbord of circus performers from high-flying acrobats performing death-defying stunts to cheery clowns tickling funny bones will vie for the 50,000-yuan Golden Lion Award (about US$6,195).

More than 300 circus performers from 16 countries and regions will compete for the top prize in the 10th China Wuqiao International Circus Festival from October 29 to December 6 in Shijiazhuang, capital of North China's Hebei Province, said Sun Shibing, chief festival organizer at a press conference last week.

With the opening ceremony set for the evening of October 29 at Hebei Art Centre, the festival has eight different activities in the lineup, Sun said.

The core feature of the festival, the circus contest will run from October 30 to November 5.

A forum, an exhibition, a public performance and other related cultural and economic exchanges will take place during the competition.

With 10 prestigious experts in the international circus field serving in the jury, the circus contest will choose three Golden Lion Award winners with a 50,000-yuan (US$6,195) prize each up for grabs, six Silver Lion Award winners with a 20,000-yuan (US$2,466) prize, and nine Bronze Lion Award winners with a 10,000-yuan (US$1,233) prize, Sun said.

Diverse cultural backgrounds will be well represented in the 32 selected programs from 16 countries and regions such as Russia, the United States, Germany, Cuba, Mongolia and China.

"They stand for the first-rate circus performance in the world, and embody the latest accomplishments and trends in the international circus arena," Sun said.

The circus festival, founded in 1987, has been held biannually. It has become one of the most important international cultural feasts in China. The Golden Lion Award has already become one of the most important circus awards in the world. The past nine festivals attracted about 400 circus programs from over 40 countries and regions.

"The festival has made special contributions to bringing Chinese culture to the world," said Ding Wei, assistant of the Chinese cultural minister.

The festival was among the first international contests held in China some 20 years ago, Ding said. The ninth festival was held in the wake of the SARS epidemic, thus helping China recover from the negative impact of SARS.

The festival is named after Wuqiao County of Hebei Province, long reputed to be the cradle of acrobatics for both China and the world. It has been jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Hebei provincial government in the past 18 years.

(China Daily October 18, 2005)