"The Chinese artists are very friendly and easy to collaborate with. I believe this opens great prospects for cooperation in the circus field," said Allahverdi Israfilov, director of the Sea Breeze Circus.

BAKU, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Sea Breeze Circus arena in Azerbaijan's capital Baku was buzzing with excitement on Saturday, as more than 1,000 spectators witnessed the debut performance of the acrobatic troupe from Liaocheng in eastern China.

For Elnara, the show was a first encounter with Chinese acrobatics. "I was deeply moved by the artists' mastery."

The program featured classic Chinese acrobatic acts, including the lion dance, aerial silk duets, and the bench dragon, showcasing the rich heritage of this art form.

In the lion dance, performers demonstrated virtuoso control of the body and perfect coordination, moving in sync with rhythmic music. They brought the lion to life with majestic power and playful humor -- from fierce roars and mane shakes to cheeky winks -- embodying eastern aesthetic refinement and symbolizing wishes for happiness and prosperity.

The aerial silks act saw a male-female duo twisting and soaring through the air, blending strength and grace. Their exquisite technique harmonized seamlessly with the melody of a Chinese song.

"We came to Baku all the way from Mingachevir with our children," said Gultekin Mammadova. "The performance by the Chinese artists was thrilling, especially the aerial silk duet. It was simply incredible and deeply impressive."

Tension filled the hall when the artists began the bench dragon act. A long dragon, assembled from more than 20 benches, was balanced atop the acrobats' heads, heightening the sense of suspense.

The performers' composure and astonishing ability to control the complex structure led to an eruption of prolonged applause.

In 2006, Liaocheng acrobatic art was included in the first list of China's national intangible cultural heritage. The tour of the Liaocheng Acrobatic Troupe in Azerbaijan will run until Jan. 11, 2026.

The event was organized by Allahverdi Israfilov, a man who knows Chinese circus arts intimately. As director of the Sea Breeze Circus and a former aerial gymnast himself, Israfilov spent years working in Chinese circuses, winning awards for his work. He praised the evolving vitality of Chinese acrobatic art.

Israfilov noted that as Azerbaijan-China relations continue to deepen, particularly within the framework of Belt and Road cooperation, interest among Azerbaijanis in Chinese culture has been steadily growing.

This year, he decided to invite a Chinese acrobatic troupe to Azerbaijan to help local audiences better understand China. "We were delighted to invite the Chinese circus to perform as part of our New Year program and showcase the mastery of talented Chinese artists," he said.

"The Chinese artists are very friendly and easy to collaborate with. I believe this opens great prospects for cooperation in the circus field," Israfilov said.■