Secret Realm takes the top prize: Longhua magicians show their skill at a top national competition

The list of winners of the 11th China Golden Chrysanthemum Award National Magic & Comedy Competition has been announced. Shenzhen had the magic acts "Secret Realm" and "Afternoon Tea" and the comedy act "Uncle Red Nose" selected for the final. In the end "Secret Realm", an original magic act entered by the Shenzhen Acrobats Association, ranked first on total score, standing out among many acts to win the Magic Act Award of the 11th China Golden Chrysanthemum Award.

"China Golden Chrysanthemum Award for Circus Arts"

Group photograph at the awards gala

The China Golden Chrysanthemum Award National Magic & Comedy Competition is co-hosted by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the China Acrobats Association, and is the highest honour in Chinese circus arts. The competition drew an enthusiastic response from the association's member organisations, with 36 outstanding magic and comedy acts from across the country competing on the same stage for 7 Magic Act Awards and 3 Comedy Act Awards.

A moment from the performance

Both performers of "Secret Realm" are vice-presidents of our district's acrobats association: Hu Bo (stage name Hu Linglong) and An Yanyan (stage name An Na). The two have appeared together many times in major programmes and competitions, such as Henan TV's "Magic Has Its Way", China Central Television's "Resounding Echo" and the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao–Taiwan Magic Exchange Conference, achieving notable results in each.

The 11th China Golden Chrysanthemum Award National Magic & Comedy Competition was the first national contest in which members of the Longhua District Acrobats Association had taken part since the association was founded. The winning act takes Shenzhen's mangroves as its setting, with the magicians and small animals together telling a story of harmony between people and nature. Starting from its stage design and visuals, it sets deep forest trees, birdsong in a secret realm and the magicians' accomplished performance off against one another, portraying a fairy-tale life in which people live in harmony with the natural environment and with birds, and expressing the theme of protecting nature. Its several upgraded and reworked magic techniques served to amplify the effect of the original magic and were widely praised.

The moment of the award

After the competition, Hu Bo (stage name Hu Linglong) and An Yanyan (stage name An Na) said: "Winning this medal is also a gift from all of us to mark the founding of the Longhua District Acrobats Association. We hope that in future our members will win more awards and bring the association greater glory. We believe that with our efforts the Longhua District Acrobats Association will keep getting better and grow into a first-class association."