The 10th China Wuqiao International Circus Festival (CWICF) opened on Saturday in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, attracting 326 acrobats from 16 countries.

Performers from countries including Russia, France, the United States, Germany, Hungary, Vietnam, Switzerland, and Spain will present 30 performances during the festival that runs until November 6.

This annual event, established in 1987, has friendship, exchange, prosperity and development for its theme. This year's festival is jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Hebei provincial government. More than 400 programs featuring performers from about 40 countries have been staged since 1987.

According to the festival organizing committee, this year's event has attracted the largest number of participating countries and performances.

Major activities of the festival include an international circus competition, traditional folk art performances, forums on the circus industry, circus art exchanges, and photo exhibitions.

Performers will be vying for the Gold Lion Prize, which is one of the most prestigious awards to be had in the world circus circle.

The repertoires on offer boast diverse cultural backgrounds and national styles, contain various acrobatic skills that highlight and capture the characteristics of circus art, said Bian Faji, chairman of the judging committee.

Eight international judges, including Urs Pilz, artistic director of Festival International du Circus de Monte Carlo, will assess the circus acts along with three Chinese judges.

A photo exhibition featuring the world's three famous circus events of the Festival International du Circus de Monte Carlo, Festival Mondial du Circus de Demain and the Wuqiao festival has also been planned for the festival.

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2005)