Wuqiao circus festival helps keep old art alive with fresh ideas

Wang Yang grew up with watching acrobatic performances and his favorite activity as a kid was doing handstands and turning somersaults.

"I can still remember that I competed with my friends to turn 100 somersaults one after another, and that I practiced at home every day so I would win," says Wang, who was born and grew up in Wuqiao county, Hebei province, which is considered to be the birthplace of Chinese acrobatics.

At 10, Wang entered Hebei Wuqiao Acrobatic Art School, with the aim of becoming a professional acrobat. Decades later, Wang, now 40, is a teacher at the school, which was founded in 1985.