ERA2 Spirit of Shanghai — Circus World Acrobatics Show Tickets

Why ERA2 — Spirit of Shanghai

Chinese acrobatics with modern staging

ERA takes the centuries-old discipline of Chinese acrobatics — balance, flexibility, raw nerve — and stages it with contemporary lighting, projection and live music, under a purpose-built golden dome. It's traditional skill in a thoroughly modern shell, which is why it plays so well to visitors who've never seen an acrobatics show before.

A love story set in Shanghai

The current production, ERA2 — Spirit of Shanghai, is built around a love story set in Shanghai, with 3D projections carrying the stage from natural landscapes to city streets and fantastical scenes, and costumes that blend French court fashion with cheongsams and flowing Chinese long dresses.

Told through movement and music

The story is told mainly through acrobatics, projection and music. Some numbers are sung, and we found no information on subtitles or translations, so expect to follow the action rather than the words.

Vivian Zhao — I write about Shanghai's evening shows for visitors — which acrobatics theatre is which, how ERA's booking and seating actually work, and how to get to Shanghai Circus World. I'm an independent booking guide, not Shanghai Circus World, ERA2 — Spirit of Shanghai or the performers.

The signature acts

ERA is built around a handful of acts that reviewers single out again and again — here's what to watch for.

The trembling bar

Performers somersault and land again on a narrow, flexing bar, an act that has won the Golden Clown award. It is one of the show's most talked-about numbers, and it is easy to see why from any seat.
Water and air

An aerial double-trapeze act with a transparent water tank on the stage: a performer drops from the trapeze into the tank, moves in the water, and is lifted back up to continue in the air. The same programme adds a giant trampoline linked to flying swings.
The motorcycle globe finale

The show's signature closer: multiple motorcycles ride simultaneously inside a steel sphere, circling and crossing paths at speed just centimetres apart. It's the moment most reviewers mention first — loud, visceral and the reason many people book.
Live music & multimedia

Throughout, a live score and projected visuals carry a love story set in Shanghai from scene to scene. The music was written for each act, from hip-hop and tango rhythms to sung ballads, and it pairs Chinese instruments such as the guzheng and erhu with piano, harp and violin.

Shanghai Circus World & the dome

"The Shanghai acrobatics show" is a specific venue with a specific building — here's what's accurate about it.

A purpose-built golden dome

Shanghai Circus World, in Jing'an District, is instantly recognisable from its faceted golden geodesic dome — lit gold at night and visible from some distance. It's a dedicated circus and acrobatics theatre, not a converted hall.

ERA is the resident production

The ERA show, which debuted at the venue in September 2005 as Intersection of Time, is Shanghai Circus World's flagship production, performed by Shanghai's professional acrobatics company. The ticket we link to is for the current version, ERA2 — Spirit of Shanghai.

Easy to reach by metro

Shanghai Circus World sits directly by its own metro station on Line 1 (Shanghai Circus World stop), making it one of the more straightforward evening shows to reach independently, without needing a private transfer.

Family-friendly, no infants

The show has no violence or mature content and no dialogue to follow, which is why it's a common recommendation for families and for anyone spending a single evening in Shanghai who wants a spectacle that needs no local language.

Shanghai Circus World & Chinese acrobatics, in pictures

The dome and Chinese acrobatics.

The daytime exterior of Shanghai Circus World with its ERA signage — Photograph by Dmitry Kvasov

Shanghai Circus World's geodesic dome illuminated at night — Photograph by Codas

An acrobat performing a diving trick through a stacked ring apparatus — Photograph by Usien

A troupe of Chinese acrobats performing a ring-diving act on stage — Photograph by Usien

What's included

Item	Included?	Good to know
The show	Yes — full admission to ERA, 60 or 100 minutes depending on the date	Non-verbal — no language barrier for any visitor
Seating category	Choose your seating zone at booking	Zones open for your date show in the booking calendar
Ticket delivery	E-ticket / QR code per the booking platform	Check your confirmation for how and when the ticket arrives
Transport	Not included on the standard ticket	The venue sits directly on Metro Line 1 (Shanghai Circus World stop)

Ways to book ERA

Find an ERA show date for your Shanghai trip

Pick your ERA seating tier below — GetYourGuide checks real-time seat availability and converts the total into your currency before you confirm.

Check dates & prices ↗ See all Shanghai theatre shows ↗

Planning your visit

Getting there

Shanghai Circus World has its own stop on Metro Line 1, making it one of the simplest evening shows in the city to reach independently. Follow signs for the golden dome from the station exit.

Arrive with time to find your seat

Allow a little extra time to find the entrance and your seat on a first visit, and check your confirmation for any arrival advice. The station is named after the venue, and the signs lead to the circus.

Choosing a seating category

Seating is booked by zone, and the zones open for your date appear in the booking calendar. We found no published seat map with sightline notes, so check the zones on your booking page before you pay.

Good for families and first-timers

With no dialogue and no mature content, ERA is a reliable pick for travelling families or for anyone who wants an easy, visually spectacular evening without worrying about language.

Booking flexibility

You can cancel free of charge up to two days before the show when you book through GetYourGuide, which takes some pressure off picking a date early. The venue's own ticket sites treat every sale as final, so the choice of booking route matters if your plans might change.

Planning an ERA night in Shanghai

Show Guide

ERA at Shanghai Circus World: What the Show Actually Is

ERA is Shanghai Circus World's signature multimedia acrobatic show, running since 2005, built around a motorcycle stunt inside a steel cage.

ERA2 showtimes and runtime guide

How long ERA2 runs, how the monthly schedule works, how to reach Shanghai Circus World by metro, and what to know about children, language and access.

ERA Shanghai tickets: how to book

How to book ERA2 at Shanghai Circus World: GetYourGuide against the venue's ticket sites, payment, seat zones, children, cancellation and who should skip it.

Getting to Shanghai Circus World: Metro Line 1 Directions

Shanghai Circus World sits on Metro Line 1 in Jing'an District — the same location once known as Zhabei, before the two districts merged in 2015.

ERA vs Shanghai's Other Acrobatics and Circus Shows

ERA isn't Shanghai's only spectacle show — see how it compares to the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe, Huxi Grand Theatre, and the venue's own Happy Circus.

Is ERA in Shanghai Worth It? What to Expect With Kids

ERA has played at Shanghai Circus World since 2005, has no animals, and needs a ticket for every attendee — here's what to expect before you book, especially with kids.

GEO/FAQ

ERA Shanghai questions

What is ERA2 — Spirit of Shanghai?

It's a Chinese acrobatics spectacle staged at Shanghai Circus World, mixing a trembling-bar act, an aerial trapeze with a water tank, a giant trampoline and a motorcycle act inside a steel sphere with 3D projection, stage machinery and original music. The current version, ERA2, tells a love story set in Shanghai and runs 60 or 100 minutes depending on the date.

Where is Shanghai Circus World, and how do I get there?

Shanghai Circus World is in Jing'an District, easily recognisable by its golden geodesic dome, and it has its own stop on Metro Line 1 (Shanghai Circus World station) — one of the more straightforward Shanghai evening shows to reach independently without a private transfer.

Do I need to speak Chinese to follow the show?

The story is told mainly through acrobatics, projection and music, so you can enjoy the action in any language. Some numbers are sung, and we found no mention of subtitles or translations.

Is it suitable for children?

Many families go, but check the age rules on your booking page. The venue's ticket sites say every attendee needs a ticket and that children are charged the full fare. Infants are not admitted on the GetYourGuide ticket, so plan it for older children. The motorcycle-globe finale is loud, so noise-sensitive children may want ear protection.

Which seat category should I book?

How do I receive my ticket, and can I cancel?

Your ticket arrives by email as a QR code e-ticket, which you show at the entrance — save it to your phone in advance and check your spam folder. Booked through GetYourGuide, you can cancel for a full refund up to two days before the show, no explanation needed. The venue's own ticket sites treat every sale as final.

Aerial acts, a giant trampoline and a steel globe of roaring motorcycles — 60–100 minutes of Chinese acrobatics under a golden geodesic dome

See ERA show dates on GetYourGuide ↗