The 10th China Wuqiao International Circus Festival (CWICF) closed in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, on Sunday with the award of four top prizes, or Gold Lions, going to three troupes from China and one from Russia.

The four winners were Hebei Provincial Acrobatic Troupe, Qianjin Acrobatic Troupe affiliated to Shenyang Military Area Command, Hebei Wuqiao Acrobatic Troupe and Nikulin Circus.

They had presented, respectively, collective bicycle stunts, balancing tricks while hanging from silk banners, contortionism while performing with lanterns and the flying trapeze.

The Gold Lions are a highly acclaimed honor in the international circus world, and the judging panel comprised 11 experts: three Chinese and eight from other countries, including Urs Pilz, artistic director of the Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo.

The nine-day 10th CWICF attracted more than 300 acrobats from countries including Russia, the US, Germany, Hungary, Vietnam, Switzerland and Spain.

Bian Faji, chairman of the awards panel, said the acts represented different cultural backgrounds, showcased various circus forms of expression and diverse characteristics of the circus art.

The oldest and largest of its kind in China, the CWICF is one of the three major international circus festivals in the world, along with the Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo and Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain.

(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2005)