Come to Guangzhou Chimelong International Circus to see the classic show hailed as 'Guangzhou's Night Icon'

The 2020 summer was coming to an end. My son complained the vacation had been far too boring, we hadn't gone anywhere, and he insisted I hurry and arrange something. So I searched online for an exciting, fun, and not-too-tiring activity: go see the international circus at Guangzhou Chimelong. After more than a decade of development, Chimelong's circus has constantly innovated with stage designs and themed shows, always leading new trends in high-end circus performances. It truly never gets old—the more you watch, the more you want to watch.

After entering the park, we first took some photos in front of a few mascot figures.

【Circus Opening Hours】The park is open daily from 17:00 to 21:00, showtime: 19:30–20:50

We arrived at the circus area at 18:00 and first dined at the Circus Star Restaurant. This restaurant is a Cantonese-style fast-food place with several set meal choices, allowing visitors to quickly pick whatever they feel like eating. We ordered different combo meals and, feeling pleasantly full, sat waiting for the show to start.

I ordered the light sandwich combo, which came with fries, chicken wings, curry fish balls, and a soft drink. The sandwich had two layers of ham and tasted pretty good.

The black pepper beef combo, served with curry fish balls, a small side of preserved mustard greens, and a lemon Sprite.

The sausage spaghetti combo came with a variety of snacks—curry fish balls, fries and chicken wings, plus some preserved mustard greens and a drink.

【Choosing a Good Seat】The most important thing for watching the circus is picking a good seat. The VIP section gives the best views. If you don't want to pay extra for VIP tickets, try to sit as close to the central VIP area as possible. A higher seat is better than one off to the side, and keep the elderly and small children a bit further from the stage.

The center aisle of the VIP seating is an excellent spot. Many small animals pass through this aisle when they come on stage, and there are lots of interactive performances here, too. Audience members can get up close with the performers and even get little gifts!

The little girl in front of us loved high-fiving the performers during every interactive segment—it was really enviable.

【Featured Shows】

The "Happy Landing" show features eight diving stunt performers from the US, UK, Belarus, Brazil, and Colombia. It's a comedic diving act that blends diving skills with hilarious storylines. This act has been performed at Chimelong since 2006—14 years and counting.

The show even invited an audience member up to do a dive with them. At first, we thought they'd just pull him up on the platform for a thrill, but then—splash!—the performer dragged him right into the water, and the crowd burst into cheers!

The young guy probably hadn't even realized what happened before he was hauled out of the water, wrapped in a bathrobe, and led backstage to change. A lucky experience like that will probably stay with him for life, haha~

"Global Motorcycle Stunts" is performed by a team of 13 stunt riders from Russia, Colombia, and other countries. Inside a giant metal sphere, they execute high-difficulty tricks with multiple motorcycles, starting from two bikes, then increasing to four, and building to a hair-raising six-bike finale. As the motorcycles race around at high speed, one bike weaves through the others with split-second timing, leaving the audience in awe.

This show has been upgraded at Chimelong, expanding from the previous two large rotating wheels to four, making it one of the most popular acts at Chimelong International Circus.

"Aerial Ballet" features 15 aerialists from Ukraine, Russia, and Moldova. Suspended high above the stage, they perform a series of difficult aerial maneuvers. Combined with large animals circling the stage, sculptural set pieces, and mist effects, it all weaves together into a majestic Eden-themed story.

The "Kazakh Equestrian Performance" brings together 15 professional riders and 7 horse keepers from six countries: Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. This act won the Special Prize at the 23rd Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival.

In the center of the stage, four male lions—yes, real lions if you zoom in—sit without chains or cages. The people seated nearby aren't afraid at all, and even the galloping horses on stage show no fear. It's absolutely incredible.

After the equestrian show, the riders came to the stage with their white steeds for the curtain call. Whether male or female, they all looked utterly stunning.

The "Flying Trapeze" show was founded by William, a former general manager of the Russian Circus Arts Association. It focuses on high-altitude throws, catches, and complex gymnastics. The act is performed by 21 professional aerialists from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and the US.

The "Magic Wheel of Fire" is most thrilling when performers walk on the spinning wheels blindfolded, or stand and leap on them, every step synced to the music. One slip and they could lose their footing and fall, so every time they reach a high point, the audience gasps in unison. Each successful feat is met with roaring applause—truly breathtaking.

The ultimate climax of the Magic Wheel of Fire is when it streaks through the night with sparks flying, like a spinning, burning star emitting dazzling light.

"Destiny Sky" transforms love sprites into a magical crystal ball. Several fairy-like performers in white danced a romantic aerial dance in the sky, while beautiful blessings echoed through the romantic heavens. At that moment, countless colorful bubbles floated out between the stage and the seats, drifting slowly forward until they vanished into the night.

There were also all kinds of wonderful animal acrobatics presented one after another, without any dull moments. The atmosphere was incredibly lively, and the interaction between performers and the audience felt vivid and natural. The animal acts were lively, though not overly numerous—likely out of respect for animal welfare, so they weren't over-trained. Mostly the animals just made a brief parade appearance for everyone's enjoyment.

During the more than one-hour show, performers frequently came into the audience to perform. With rousing music and sizzling dances, you couldn't help but move along. The atmosphere was so infectious that the whole place—on stage and off—was filled with joy.

The perfect fusion of modern technology and aesthetic art turned the stage into a series of magnificent tableau. Bubbles drifting overhead and mist spraying across the seating area made the audience feel immersed in the beauty.

The hour and a half flew by. The circus left us wanting more. As we were leaving, my son said reluctantly, "I hope we can come again soon, wow haha~"

Exiting the park, we reached the circus parking lot, where we caught the shuttle bus to the metro station to head home. See you next time, Chimelong International Circus!

【Warm Reminders】

1. Circus tickets are per person, with one seat and one ticket for each guest.

2. Children's tickets are for kids between 1 and 1.5 meters in height. Children under 1 meter are not recommended to enter; if they do insist on entering, a children's ticket must also be purchased, and the guardian assumes full responsibility for any consequences.

3. To buy tickets, you can book online through travel platforms, or purchase them at the circus gate after 12:30 on the same day. During holidays, advance booking is highly recommended.

4. During the performance, please do not use flash photography. Many dangerous stunts are performed by artists risking their lives; flash can distract them and cause serious accidents. So please take photos without flash.