Worth It?
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.
See ERA show dates on GetYourGuide ↗ERA at a glance for trip planning
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Animals in the show? | No — that's the separate Happy Circus |
| Minimum age? | Full-fare ticket each; no infants |
| Child discount? | None — full price for every age |
| Language barrier? | Told mainly through movement and music; some numbers are sung |
| Refund if plans change? | Venue ticket sites: all sales final. GetYourGuide: free cancellation up to 2 days before |
| Longevity | Since 2005; schedule published month by month |
Who ERA Is Actually Built For
ERA's format is heavy on visuals, music and movement rather than spoken scenes, which makes it an easy fit for international visitors who don't speak Chinese. The story is carried mainly by acrobatics, staging and projection, though some numbers are sung.
What You're Actually Watching
The production blends acrobatics, martial arts, and dance with multimedia staging, and frames the whole show around a loose historical arc referencing the Han dynasty on one end and modern China on the other. That framing gives the individual acts — the balance work, the water effects, the ribbon dancing — a sense of narrative continuity rather than presenting them as an unconnected variety bill. You don't need any background in Chinese history to follow or enjoy it; the framing is more atmospheric than explanatory, carried through staging and visuals rather than text or spoken narration. It's worth knowing going in so the shifts in tone across the show make sense.
No Animals, No Age-Based Pricing
Two things worth confirming before you book: ERA has no animals in its cast — the animal-based show at this venue is the separate Happy Circus — and there's no discounted pricing for children. Every seat, in every zone, is charged at the same rate regardless of who's sitting in it, so budgeting for a family trip means pricing every ticket at full adult rate. If avoiding animal acts is a priority for your group, ERA has none. If a lower price point for children is the priority instead, ERA won't deliver that. Verify at official booking before travel.
The Motorcycle Finale and Very Young Children
The venue's ticket sites say every attendee needs a ticket, and infants are not admitted on the GetYourGuide ticket. What's worth knowing is what the show's finale involves: the motorcycle stunt inside the steel sphere is loud, fast and high-intensity. For most children this is simply the most exciting part of the night, but parents of young children should use their own judgment about whether that finale is a good fit.
Plan on the Booking Being Final
The venue's own ticket sites treat every sale as final, while a GetYourGuide booking allows free cancellation up to two days before the show. Either way, it's worth settling the details that matter before you buy: which date, which runtime version, which seating zone, and whether the motorcycle finale is a good fit for everyone in your group. If you're still deciding between ERA and one of the other shows covered elsewhere, make that call before booking rather than after.
Two Decades at the Venue
ERA has been staged at Shanghai Circus World since September 2005, and the current production, ERA2, is on sale through the venue's ticket sites into December 2026. The venue publishes its schedule month by month rather than promising a show every night, so check the calendar for your date. A long run does not make it the best show in Shanghai, and this guide does not claim that, but it does show the production has held an audience for years. Verify the date and session on your booking page before you travel.