Learn Chinese

The forms of Chinese acrobatics vary a lot, but in terms of the ways of expression, there are only three kinds: juggling, changing or practicing.

Changing is mainly involved in Chinese conjuring and magic. It integrates scientific principles of acoustics, optics, electrics, chemistry, mechanics and color. The performers make use of special stratagems and props and carefully designs performing methods. With a sleight of hand, they can produce changing performances in a twinkling of eye, dazing the audience.

As for juggling and practicing, the two are promiscuous. Generally speaking, juggling refers to the way of expression that performers juggle props while practicing, props juggle performers.

In juggling, the performers make use of props to produce various skilful performances, such as whirling meteors, diabolo spinning, kicking shuttlecock, waving flying fork and plate spinning and so on. Most of these items are small in scale and exquisite in style and can make the audience relaxed and happy.

While in practicing, the performers resort to props to make various movements, such as Wushu (martial art), lifting pole, pole climbing, juggling objects with feet, horsemanship and tightrope walking and so on. Most of these items are large in scale and spectacular in style which can stimulate the audience and produce courage and perseverance in them.

（Source: chinaculture.org）