Beijing SKP Is the Place to Be, Just Look at the Recent Circus

During the May Day holiday Beijing SKP, one of Beijing's best luxury shopping destinations, celebrated by putting on an amazing event. On May 1 and 2, Hangzhou Suntiandy Culture and Performing Arts Co., Ltd presented an extraordinary circus performance that transformed the mall into a theatrical wonderland.

I was lucky enough to attend on May 1 and experience all three parts of this incredible show. So much stood out to me.

Perfect for fans of physical comedy, the show offered a thrilling mix of elegance and fun, featuring mime, contortion, shoulder ballet, diabolo, and magic tricks. The show's intricate, luxurious stage setups were built especially around audience interaction. With each part of the show, a large, diverse crowd (children and adults, locals and expats alike) gathered around the performances, all eager to get a good look at the excitement and join in on the action.

The costumes and makeup are among the most detailed I have ever seen: each character builds an entire world through their fashion alone. Paired with the floral-themed fixed main stage, multi-level scattered performances, and immersive parades throughout the venue, the production offers ever-changing scenery and complete spatial immersion. Moreover, this performance was unlike any previous iterations in Wuhan and Chengdu: the Beijing performance boasted an eight-person cast from diverse backgrounds, including two additional characters: the suited man and the magician.

The upbeat, engaging music meant you could find the performance simply by following the thumping bass beat. The shows were divided into three parts:

Part 1: The Fantasy Parade

The cast captivated the audience as they walked around the entire first floor of the mall, engaging visitors with gifted balloons, magic tricks, acrobatics and more. Many of the tricks allowed little kids from the crowd to participate! It was the perfect daytime May holiday activity: grab lunch, browse, and walk around the mall with this amazing cast!

Part 2: The Fixed-Location Circus 

The cast created two short, yet magical experiences that highlighted each individual member of the cast with solo performances.

Part 3: The Magical Garden Circus Wonderland Show

The finale was truly unmissable. Set on the fourth floor in an open area specially designed for this performance (complete with real planted flowers!) every single performer was absolutely captivating. The stage they created was a sight to behold, with crowds gathering to watch the performers do impossible stunts as they crafted a beautiful storyline.

Although this amazing May Day Special performance may have come to an end, it certainly isn't the only reason to visit SKP Beijing. The time between each act gave me the perfect opportunity to wander each floor of the luxurious mall. Food options were abundant: quick, food court–style meals on the basement floor to restaurants ideal for a family outing on the fifth and sixth floors. Cuisines range from Japanese to Singaporean, and I would have happily stopped to eat at any of them.

The intermissions between each performance were also perfect to browse the mall's many stores, from luxurious international clothing and shoe brands to fun home appliances displayed ready to try. Adding to the sensory experience, each floor even has its own distinct scent.

From my exploration, I could tell that SKP is genuinely expat, and tourist-friendly. Highlights include in-store "instant tax refund" (离境退税, or "buy now, refund now") and bilingual service at the information desk and bilingual signage throughout the mall.

Beijing SKP truly is the premier one-stop shopping destination for expats in Beijing and the May Day holiday is definitely a perfect time to visit!

Beijing SKP
87 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区建国路87号

Images: courtesy of Beijing SKP