Magicians popping up

刘谦，33岁，12岁时获得科波菲尔颁发的全台湾少儿魔术比赛冠军。在今年春晚上，他凭借精彩绝伦的的魔术表演引发了近来的魔术热潮。其中，有一项表演让人百看不厌：把戒指变到鸡蛋里去，在现场打破鸡蛋取出戒指。

Lu, 33, who was judged by Copperfield as Taiwan's top young magician at age 12, helped spark the recent craze with his beguiling performance on China's top TV show this spring. Among his tricks: making a ring disappear and then reappear inside an egg, which he cracked open for the great reveal.

如今，各大城市为业余爱好者及专业魔术师开设的培训学校如雨后春笋般层出不穷，还有数千名大学生希望能在高校魔术联盟里一较高低。

Training schools for amateurs and professionals are mushrooming in Chinese cities, while thousands of college students want to compete in a university magic association.

在宝丰县，魔术传统可以追溯到公元7世纪。民间艺人们和商家借助传授这些技巧在本次全球金融危机中得以幸免。枣庄星神商店的老板李美昌说，今年光舞台服装的销售额就上升了30％。

In Baofeng, where traditions of magic stretch back to the seventh century, entertainers and entrepreneurs have bucked the global recession by teaching the tricks of the trade. Sales of stage costumes jumped 30% this year, says Li Meichang, owner of the Star God store in Zhaozhuang.

历史学家徐秋说：“魔术热使宝丰的各种魔术都盛行起来。当地政府鼓励魔术产业的发展，因为它有助于本地经济繁荣”。