Shenzhen pulls the rabbit out of the hat

The International Federation of Magic Societies is set to host its highly anticipated FISM Asia Championship of Magic from Sept 25 to 28 in the Shenzhen Happy Valley in Guangdong province, according to a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

There will be 68 performances by contestants from 10 Asian countries and regions, including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China and Thailand, and they will be competing for 18 titles in six categories, according to Tang Yanhai, Party secretary of the China Acrobats Association.

Activities including magic salons, lectures by magicians, and an exhibition of magic props, will be held during the event.

Hosted by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, FISM Asia, and the China Acrobats Association, the championship will select competitors for the World Championship of Magic, which will be held in Turin from July 14 to 19 next year.

Held every three years since 1948, about 3,000 magicians from across the globe are expected to attend the Turin event. In 2009, the 24th FISM World Championship of Magic was held at Beijing's National Convention Center in Beijing, and attracted some 2,500 participants from 66 countries and regions.