Hu Linglong | Creating classic magic, making extraordinary moments

Hu Linglong is the fourth-generation inheritor of Sun-school traditional Chinese magic (xifa), an item of Chinese intangible cultural heritage. He is currently a member of the Magic Art Committee of the China Acrobats Association, a member of the Guangdong Acrobats Association, a council member of the Shenzhen Acrobats Association, and Vice-Chair of the Acrobats Association of Longhua District, Shenzhen.

In 2010 he took first place on Henan TV's "Magic Has Its Way";

In 2013 he won the title of "Extraordinary Star" on CCTV's "Very 6+1"; the same year he took part in the CCTV-7 Spring Festival Gala and appeared as a guest performer on the programmes "Resounding Echo" and "I Want to Be on the Spring Festival Gala";

In 2016 his original work "Forest Fantasy" won the Gold Award at the "3rd Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao–Taiwan Magic Exchange Conference";

In 2021 he won the Gold Award at Shenzhen's "Golden Magic Ring" magic competition; the same year he took the Golden Chrysanthemum crown with the top overall score at the "Golden Chrysanthemum Award," the highest national award for magic and acrobatics, and was invited to appear as a guest on CCTV-4's "Global Variety Show."

Hu Linglong was born in Wuqiao, Hebei, into a family that is an acrobatic dynasty in the truest sense. When he was three his parents began taking him along to performances everywhere, and now and then had him act as a little assistant, which gave him a strong interest in the art of acrobatics.

In 2003 Hu Linglong and his partner An Na began researching and creating magic acts. Drawing on the Western film "Hamlet," they created a Chinese magic version of the prince and the princess, "Temptation of the Elf"; afterwards they went on to create large-scale magic acts including "Phantom of the Cardboard Box," "Encounter with the Guzheng," "Magic Bird Show," "An Na's Card Artistry," "Through the Fan," "Fire Thorn," "Beauty Jigsaw," "Head Transposition" and "Sword." Their distinctive style of performance won unanimous acclaim inside and outside the profession. In 2010 Hu Linglong and An Na were invited onto magic programmes by major satellite television stations across the country, and took first place in the competition on Henan TV's "Magic Has Its Way." Shortly afterwards he also appeared on Hubei TV's "I Am a Genius" and CCTV's "Very 6+1," both to good reviews.

In 2021 the two jointly created "Secret Realm," a magic drama on the theme of nature, and won the Gold Award at the 11th "Golden Chrysanthemum Award," the highest award in Chinese acrobatics and magic, becoming guest performers at the 23rd International Magic Festival of Happy Valley Shenzhen. The inspiration for the act "Secret Realm" came from the Shenzhen mangrove forest, a well-known nature reserve in the city. Through the harmony between people and small creatures they wanted to express the idea of humans living in harmony with the natural environment and with birds and of protecting nature; they hope to convey to the public, by means of magic, the idea of cherishing and protecting nature and promoting harmony between humanity and the natural world.

The art of magic comes from life and returns to life. Hu Linglong says he will go on blending traditional Chinese culture and sound ideas into his magic works, hoping that in this way he can bring audiences joy while also giving them some understanding of life and, more importantly, promoting traditional Chinese culture.