BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Acrobats from 19 countries and regions will attend the 17th China Wuqiao International Circus Festival, slated to open in Shijiazhuang, capital of northern China's Hebei Province, on Oct. 25.

A total of 30 performances will be staged, 25 of which will be performed by foreign acrobats, Li Yaying, an official with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said at a press conference Thursday.

Aside from acrobatics competitions, a series of acrobatics shows will be presented in the cities of Shijiazhuang and Cangzhou and Wuqiao County in Hebei from Oct. 25 to Nov. 7. Audiences can also attend an international circus carnival in Shijiazhuang, according to the press conference.

Founded in 1987, the festival, held every two years, is regarded as China's longest-running international circus festival, while boasting the widest influence in the field of acrobatics.

The festival, together with the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival in Monaco and the World Circus Festival of Tomorrow in Paris, are known as the world's top three circus venues, according to the press conference.