Great leaps in every direction

A famous troupe from Shandong pulls out all the stops as performers create a show that excites a new audience, Chen Nan finds.

Over 10 years ago, Shandong Acrobatic Troupe, one of China's best, was in trouble. Like many traditional art forms of China, acrobatics faced losing audiences, especially the younger generation.

But during the last few years, people have been flocking back to the theaters. The troupe's director, Yao Jianguo, says more than 3,500 shows are held every year - not just domestically but worldwide.