Acrobats have been an integral part of Chinese entertainment for over two thousand years. Original performances utilized everyday objects such as urns, chairs, and bowls. Various routines can be dated as far back as the warring states period (475 – 221BC). By the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), the art of ‘a hundred plays’ became more commonplace, including tumblers, strong men, contortionists and many more, often accompanied by music. However it was not until the Tang period (7th – 10th centuries AD) that skill levels really attained new heights and became a prevalent part of Imperial court entertainment. The famous Tang Murals in the Mogao grottoes at Dunhuang reveal such performances. Throughout China today there are over a hundred distinguished troupes, and the tradition has evolved with ever more dramatic acts emerging as the Chinese continue to impress on the world their enduring strength and rich cultural heritage. The Shanghai Acrobats remain the most acclaimed in China.