Recently awarded Magician of the Year by the US-based Academy of Magical Arts, Taiwan magician Liu Qian (also known as Louis Liu in Taiwan), has been compared to some of world's most famous performers in the craft and former winners of the accolade, including David Copperfield and David Blain. The award given to the 35-year-old showman signifies how far magic has come in the Middle Kingdom. It has evolved into an increasingly popular form of entertainment in China, where top rated magicians earn top dollar. However, development of homegrown magicians has been uneven, with a series of problems under the glitzy surface threatening to turn the industry into a disappearing act. 

2008 was a significant year for young magician Wang Chen, who won the top prize of "Golden Card" at the International Magic Competition. The following year, Liu made his highly anticipated debut at the China Central Television (CCTV) New Year's Gala, dazzling more than a billion viewers with his act. "Magic has been regarded as a performance art for a long time, but only as a sideshow," said Wang, who sometimes performs up to three times daily. "It was not until Liu's success in 2008 that people in China began to talk about magic with greater interest."

Nowadays, magicians are among the most in-demand performers and their acts have gone from simple illusions to expensive, death-defying feats. Wang noted he can earn more than 10,000 yuan ($1,586) on busy days. While this might sound impressive, Liu as China's indisputable No.1 magician and a regular performer in Asia, Europe and North America, can earn up to 10 million yuan each month.

Despite the prosperity of the industry and crop of young talent rolling up their sleeves to perform tricks, the celebrity power of Chinese magicians seems to be the biggest draw card. Liu, who didn't participate in last year's CCTV New Year's Gala, inadvertently dealt a blow to other magicians, who experienced a slump in business.

Though magic has stolen the spotlight within the entertainment industry in China, it lacks the polished presentation common in the West by big-name magicians. American men of magic including Val Valentino (aka the "Masked Magician") spare no expense in their performances that often involve expensive props and costly stage effects.

However, for Chinese magicians it's a different story. Budget restrictions mean they must instead rely on cheaper tricks involving inexpensive props. The restrictions on exploring new territory also mean that many of their illusions are scaled down imitations of foreign magicians' tricks.

Liu, who once spent $5,000 on importing his customized props, appeared to be leading a shift from this direction. However, many of Liu's accessories were later exposed as replicas costing a third of their genuine counterparts.

The lack of talented magicians might be just another problem. Although many young people in China have pursued magic on the back of its popularity in recent years, too many lack the experience necessary to become great magicians. Wang recalled how one of his guests canceled an invitation for him to perform recently after another magician agreed to perform for a fifth of Wang's fee. Naturally, his cut-price rival also cut corners in his act. The encouragement of such practices lowers the bar for other magicians, argued Wang. "Magic is a difficult craft. It's not an easy career as many young people suspect," he said.

Unlike institutes for training dancers and singers, there is no professional "school" for cultivating magicians in China. However, Liu is pushing for that to change. "People are not certain about the market for magic, which is the major reason for the absence of a magic school in China. I hope to establish one while maintaining my own performing skills," he said.