ERA Circus Shanghai Review: Is It Worth the Hype?
Looking for the best evening activity in Shanghai? The ERA Circus is a breathtaking blend of acrobatics and art. Here is everything you need to know.
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Looking for the best evening activity in Shanghai? The ERA Circus is a breathtaking blend of acrobatics and art. Here is everything you need to know.
Shanghai Must-Do ERA Circus Honest Review & Booking Guide All rights reserved, Global Explorer |
If you are looking for the perfect evening activity in Shanghai,
I cannot recommend the ERA Circus enough.
My local guide actually suggested it to me,
and to be completely honest, it was so much more thrilling, visually stunning, and spectacular
than I ever anticipated. I left the theater genuinely moved.
If you thought this was just going to be a few trapeze swings and some fire-breathing,
think again.
It is not a traditional circus; it is an immersive art performance
that seamlessly blends light, music, storytelling, and cutting-edge technology.
If you are staying in Shanghai for three nights or more,
just looking at the skyline every night can get a bit repetitive.
That is exactly why I highly recommend the "ERA Circus."
It is super close to downtown and makes for an incredibly fulfilling evening.
Definitely a must-visit spot in Shanghai!
Here is my honest review of the ERA Circus,
along with booking tips and recommendations for the best seats in the house.
If you are planning a trip to Shanghai in 2026,
you definitely need to add this to your itinerary.
The official name of the show is
ERA Intersection of Time.
It is so famous that it easily ranks in the TOP 3
must-see attractions in Shanghai.
Rather than a simple acrobatics show, it is an immersive performance
that combines incredible lighting, live music, a compelling storyline, and technology.
📍 Venue Location
Shanghai Circus World
2266 Gonghexin Rd, Jing'an District, Shanghai
It is located right outside
Shanghai Circus World Station on Metro Line 1.
Since the station is named after the venue,
it is practically impossible to get lost.
The subway access makes getting there an absolute breeze.
📌 Showtimes
✔ Tue ~ Fri 7:30 PM (60 mins)
✔ Sat ~ Sun 2:00 PM / 7:30 PM (Sunday shows are 100 mins)
No shows on Mondays
I bought my tickets through an online booking platform.
After comparing several sites,
this specific platform was the most affordable
and even allowed me to apply additional promo discounts.
What made it even better was that, as a customer of this platform,
I received 3 complimentary welcome gifts
and was assigned some of the best seats in the house.
Highly recommend going this route!
The price was surprisingly affordable at around ~$36.
Seeing a show of this caliber in Western countries would easily cost over $100.
China has a rich tradition of acrobatics,
so the quality and production value are off the charts.
Getting to see this for under forty bucks is a steal!
You absolutely have to go... right?! A certified Shanghai must-do.
When you book through the recommended link,
on the day of your show:
✔ A local guide waits for you with a flag
✔ They personally escort you to your seat
✔ You receive a gift bag (candy, hand cream, and a souvenir magnet)
If you are paying the same ticket price anyway,
it obviously makes sense to book where you get these VIP perks.
👇🏻 ERA Circus Ticket Booking Site
Click below for the lowest price (Special Promo Ongoing)
The seating is divided into VIP, A, and B sections.
✔ VIP Section
It is quite expensive.
Honestly, the view isn't that much different from the adjacent A section,
so I wouldn't recommend it.
✔ B Section
These are side seats, meaning you won't get a full view of the stage. Not recommended.
✔ A Section (Highly Recommended!)
The best bang for your buck.
You get a panoramic view of the entire stage, and the legroom
is surprisingly spacious! We were sitting almost dead center. Definitely recommend!
If you book through the link below,
the guide actually blocks out the best possible seats within the A section
just for you.
No need to stress about getting a bad view!
⬇️
On the day of the show, we arrived about 30 minutes early
and met our guide right in front of the theater.
They walked us directly to our seats
and handed over the 3-piece gift set right then and there.
As for the gifts,
I wasn't expecting much since they were free, but the quality was actually great!
It set a really positive mood before the show even started.
One crucial tip when visiting the ERA Circus:
Make absolutely sure you bring your passport!
They check passports at the entrance, so do not leave them at the hotel.
Even though we had A section tickets, we were seated so close to the VIP section
that we had a crystal clear, dead-center view of the stage.
The booking platform promised they would assign us the best spots,
and they definitely delivered on that promise!
The moment the show starts, an explosion of light and music hits you
as the performers make their grand entrance.
I literally caught myself whispering, "Wow, this is insane."
There were three specific acts that completely blew my mind:
1. Aerial Acrobatics
Performers dangling from the high ceiling
doing jaw-dropping stunts with absolutely zero safety harnesses.
My palms were sweating the entire time.
2. The 8-Motorcycle Steel Globe
Eight motorcycles driving simultaneously at top speed
inside a tiny metal sphere. I still can't comprehend how the physics of that work.
3. Human Pyramid Performance
People stacking on top of each other higher and higher.
The height and the perfect balance they maintained was surreal.
It was genuinely dizzying to watch.
These breathtaking, hold-your-breath moments
kept coming relentlessly for the entire 100 minutes.
It was a rollercoaster of adrenaline, awe, and plenty of laughs sprinkled in between.
Because the theater is circular, the sightlines are incredibly open,
giving the whole performance a 3D feel that pulls you right into the action.
After the show ended, my husband and I couldn't stop talking about it.
We kept repeating, "That was epic. I'm so glad we went!"
It left us buzzing with excitement for the rest of the night.
If you are visiting Shanghai and want something unforgettable to do
after checking out the skyline,
you absolutely must see the ERA Circus.
It is especially fantastic for families traveling together—
older parents, in particular, will absolutely love it.
👇🏻 ERA Circus Ticket Booking Site
Click below to book at the lowest price
From Tuesday to Friday, there is a 60-minute performance at 7:30 PM. On weekends, Saturday and Sunday, there are two performances at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM, with the Sunday performance lasting 100 minutes. There are no performances on Mondays.
Booking through MyRealTrip is the most affordable option, as special events and credit card discounts may apply. The ticket price based on MyRealTrip is ~$31.
Section A is recommended for its excellent view of the entire stage relative to its price. When booking through MyRealTrip, you can be assigned the best seats within Section A. Additionally, you'll receive seating guidance from an on-site guide and a set of 3 commemorative gifts (candy, hand cream, and a souvenir magnet).
The performance venue is located at Shanghai Circus World (上海市静安区共和新路2266号), with excellent accessibility as it's right in front of Mashicheng Station on Metro Line 1. You must bring your passport as it will be checked at the entrance of the venue.
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