Renowned Chinese acrobatics drama Mulan popular in France

The Chinese acrobatics drama Mulan was warmly welcomed by audiences this week throughout France. More than 300,000 people watched the large-scale historical acrobatics drama featuring 45 performers in 54 shows as of Tuesday, said Chongqing Art Performance Group Saturday. Mulan, or Hua Mulan, is a legendary Chinese heroine of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589) who took her elderly father's place in the army, disguising herself as a man, and fought for 12 years and gained great honors in the war. Yet she refused any reward and retired to her hometown to take care of her father after the war ended. Each performance lasts 105 minutes, and cheering crowds of more than 6,000 attended each show. "Chongqing's acrobatics show makes us learn more about Chinese culture, and the excellent skills make us fall in love with Chinese culture," a resident of Paris said. The Chongqing Art Performance Group launched a European tour in December, and France is the first country to receive the performers, and the next stop is Britain. The art group belongs to Chongqing Art Performance Group, which is a state-owned cultural enterprise with over 400 staff members. It was founded in April 2010 by the Chongqing municipal government.