China’s circus has a long history of more than 3000 years. It originated in the Pre-Qin period and flourished in Han and Tang Dynasties. In its heyday, circus used to be a must-see performance that emperors entertained foreign envoys and thus became a key factor of cultural strength. From Song and Yuan Dynasties on, circus changed into a folk performing art and related people-to-people communications were extensively carried out between China and other countries. After the founding of the PRC, as it was highly valued by the leaders of the Party and state, circus art regained past glory and acted as a cultural messenger in China’s diplomacy. China’s circus artists got well-received from the government. “Acrobats are treasures of our country, so they deserve care and good pay. We must ensure that they can live a good life.” said the late Premier ZHOU Enlai.
In 1950, some folk acrobats constituted Chinese Acrobatic Troupe, which, in its first diplomatic mission, visited the USSR in celebration of the 33rd anniversary of the victory of October Revolution. This was the first art troupe to visit abroad as the People's Republic of China’s representative since 1949. From then on, China’s circus revived its important position in history and served as a messenger of cultural exchanges.
In 1953, the Chinese Acrobatic Troupe was renamed as China National Acrobatic Troupe as the first state-level art troupe in China. Since then, acrobatic troupes have flourished all over China and played an important role in China’s international exchanges.
Showing Kindness to Neighboring Countries
Forging Friendship with Socialist Counterparts
Shortly after its founding in 1949, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) established diplomatic relations with 10 socialist countries, namely USSR, Czechoslovakia, Albania, GDR, Bulgaria, Poland, Mongolia, DPRK, Hungary and Romania. As a part of China’s cultural exchange with those countries and China’s neighboring countries, circus troupes were sent in overseas visit so as to foster amity, strengthen friendship and promote cooperation and development.
In 1951 China National Acrobatic Troupe visited then Czechoslovakia for performance.
It is well worth mentioning that, in view of sound foundation of bilateral relations and cultural exchanges, China and Poland signed an inter-governmental cultural cooperation agreement in 1951, which was the first agreement of its kind signed between PRC and foreign counterpart, symbolizing the start of China’s systematic cultural exchange strategy at inter-governmental level.
Global Journey of China’s Circus
Leads to Blossom of Friendship
Between 1957 and 1958， XIA Juhua presented performances in USSR
In 1957 Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe visited Poland for performance.
In 1963 Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe participated in the Games of the New Emerging Forces.
After regaining its legitimate position in the United Nations (UN) in 1971, China witnessed a double-speed increase in the number of countries with diplomatic relations established. Accordingly, the exchange visits of various delegations including art troupes were accelerating. Statistics show that between 1971 and 1976, China received nearly 30 foreign art troupes or artists, and sent nearly 3,000 people in 40 performing art troupes to visit more than 50 countries. Never failing to live up to the country’s expectation, those visiting circus troupe brought about blossom of friendship along their visit to the countries all over the world.
Circus Diplomacy—Bridge of China-US Friendship
In 1972, then US President Richard Nixon’s visit to China indicated that over two decades of estrangement between China and the United States came to an end. On this basis, two countries reached consensus on cultural and personnel exchanges.
In 1972 when Mr. Balluku then Defense Minister of Albania visited China he watched the performance by Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe and took a group photo with the troupe after performance.
During the tour performance in the United State in 1972 Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe received an enthusiastic welcome by local people in Chicago.
In 1973 Richard Milhous Nixon then President of the United States and his spouse met with Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe at the White House
In 1973 Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe visited Mexico for performance. The spouse of Lazaro Cardenas ex-president of Mexico watched the performance and took a group photo with the troupe.
In 1973 Wuhan Acrobatic Troupe visited Pakistan for performance and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto then Prime Minister of Pakistan watched the performance and took a group photo with the troupe after performance.
To make China’s first cultural visit to U.S. successful, leaders of CPC and PRC made detailed plans and sufficient preparations beforehand. Given then situation and cultural differences, Premier ZHOU Enlai, through deliberate consideration,finally decided to send Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe (consisting of PLA Acrobatic Troupe and Dalian Acrobatic Troupe) to tour the United States from the end of 1972 to the beginning of 1973, and then other four American countries, namely Canada, Mexico, Peru and Chile, all of which turned out to be a great success. During their stay in the United States, then U.S. President Nixon received the troupe at the White House. As he commented, “in addition to your excellent performance, you have brought to us China’s friendship and bridged between Chinese people and American people”. In Western media, this visit is recognized as “Circus Diplomacy”.
