There is a golden building on Gonghexin Road that locals call the “Golden Pineapple.” It has a distinctly retro-futuristic roof, and for two decades, it has been home to one of the most successful live shows in China’s entertainment history.
The show is ERA – Intersection of Time (时空之旅), performed at Shanghai Circus World in Jing’an District. It premiered in September 2005. Twenty years later, it is still running, still filling seats, and still earning its reputation as one of the must-see performances for visitors to Shanghai .
This is not a typical circus. There are no animals. There are no clowns. It is a 90-minute acrobatic spectacle that blends traditional Chinese acrobatics with multimedia projections, live music, and a transforming stage. The result is something that feels closer to a Broadway production than a traditional big-top show .
The Numbers Behind the Longevity
The show’s run is genuinely remarkable. As of September 2025, ERA had performed over 6,400 shows, welcomed 6.1 million audience members, and generated over 800 million RMB in ticket revenue .
To put that in perspective: roughly one in every 30 inbound tourists to Shanghai has seen ERA . For many tour groups, it is a fixed stop on the itinerary. The sight of tour buses queuing outside the Circus World building, with visitors from dozens of countries gathering in the lobby, has been described by local media as looking like “a small United Nations” .
The show has won nearly every major cultural award in China: the National Stage Art Excellence Project, the Ministry of Culture Innovation Award, and placement on the National Tourism Performance Quality Catalog. The People’s Daily once called it “a miracle of cultural performance and a model of cultural innovation” .
The Story Behind the Show
ERA was originally a collaboration between Chinese and Canadian artistic teams, led by the Shanghai Media & Entertainment Group, China Arts & Entertainment Group, and the Shanghai Acrobatics Troupe .
The concept was ambitious from the start: take the physical skills of traditional acrobatics—skills that have been performed in China for over 2,000 years—and frame them within a multimedia narrative about time, history, and China’s evolution from ancient civilization to modern power .
The title “Intersection of Time” reflects this. The audience stands at a crossroads between past, present, and future. The acts draw on ancient traditions: a porcelain jar-balancing routine dates back to the Han Dynasty, and segments reference the ancient Chinese compass (Sinan), the Qingming scroll, and the terracotta warriors. But these are paired with projections of the Donghai Bridge, the Maglev train, and Shenzhou 5, China’s first manned space mission .
The Performers: A Story of Continuity
One of the most interesting aspects of ERA’s 20-year run is the continuity of its performers. Acrobats typically have short careers, often retiring by their thirties due to the physical demands. ERA has defied that norm in surprising ways.
Kong Xianghong (孔祥红) is perhaps the most striking example. He was the lead performer for the jar-balancing act when ERA premiered in 2005, at the age of 40. Twenty years later, at 60, he was still performing—not as the main act, but as a mentor and “passing the torch” figure, teaching younger performers the techniques he had mastered. He officially retired in June 2025, but still visits the rehearsal hall to coach his successors .
Younger performers describe him with reverence. One said, “He doesn’t just perform well—he has a presence. We’re far behind. We need another ten years of practice” .
Other performers have transitioned within the production rather than leaving it. Chen Shumiao (陈姝苗), who performed the aerial silk act in the original ERA, suffered a fall that injured his hands and spine. After recovery, he performed for two more years, then became a stage manager—staying with the show in a different capacity .
This kind of continuity is rare in the entertainment industry. It suggests that ERA has functioned not just as a production, but as a community and a career home for its performers.
The Current Show: ERA 2 – Spirit of Shanghai
The original ERA ran from 2005 until January 2020. In July 2021, a new version premiered: ERA 2 – Spirit of Shanghai (时空之旅2), created in collaboration with France’s Phoenix Circus .
The current show retains the most iconic acts while adding new choreography and updated multimedia elements. It runs in two versions: a 60-minute “travel version” on most weekdays, and a 100-minute “full version” on weekends and holidays .
The Three Signature Acts
Motorcycle Sphere (大球飞车) — This is the showstopper. Multiple motorcycles race simultaneously inside a steel sphere only six meters in diameter. The riders cross paths with centimeters of clearance, engines roaring, lights flashing. It has appeared on CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala and is consistently described by audiences as the most thrilling part of the show .
Peace Messenger (和平信使) — A female acrobat suspended over ten meters in the air performs alongside up to seven white doves. The doves fly in sync with her movements, landing and taking off on cue. It is a genuinely poetic sequence, and one of the few acts of its kind in China .
Pole Acrobatics (抖杠表演) — This act won the “Golden Clown” award, one of the highest honors in international circus. Performers execute consecutive flips and jumps on a flexible pole only about twenty centimeters wide. The audible creaking of the pole under pressure and the sharp sound of feet landing on it are part of the tension—you hear the risk in real time .
Practical Information
Address: Shanghai Circus World, 2266 Gonghexin Road, Jing’an District (上海市静安区共和新路2266号)
Metro: Line 1, Shanghai Circus World Station (上海马戏城站). Exit 3 is closest to the venue .
Showtimes: Typically 19:30 daily, with additional 14:00 matinees on weekends and public holidays .
Duration: 60 minutes (travel version) or 100 minutes (full version). Same ticket price for both .
Ticket Prices: Approximately 280–880 RMB depending on seat zone. A-zone seats are closer to the stage; B-zone seats are further back but still offer good views. The venue is relatively intimate, so even B-zone seats provide a decent experience .
Booking: Tickets are available through the official Shanghai Circus World website, major travel platforms (Trip.com, KKday), and hotel concierge services. It is strongly recommended to book at least 3–5 days in advance, especially for weekend shows .
Accessibility: The venue is wheelchair accessible. Food and drinks are available inside, and you can order snacks by scanning a QR code at your seat .
Is It Worth It?
For first-time visitors to Shanghai, ERA is one of the few performances that genuinely delivers on its promise. It is not a tourist trap. The acrobatics are world-class, the production values are high, and the 20-year track record speaks for itself.
For expats who have been in Shanghai for a while, it is worth remembering that this is something genuinely unique to the city. The combination of traditional Chinese acrobatics, international production standards, and a narrative that engages with China’s history and future is not something you can find in many other places.
If you are planning a visit, the evening show followed by a walk along the Suzhou Creek or a late dinner in Jing’an makes for a solid night out. And if you are considering living in this part of Shanghai—the area around Shanghai Circus World is well-connected and has a good mix of residential options—we are happy to help you explore the neighborhood.
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