Taiwan's popular magician Liu Qian is in intense rehearsal for his two solo shows later this week in Beijing, which he has promised will be his most spellbinding performance.

Liu is working more than ten hours every day in preparation at the Beijing Exhibition Theater, where he is set to perform on Friday and Saturday, Sohu.com reports.

A poster of magician Liu Qian's 2009 Asian tour [sohu.com]

The shows will be part of Liu's Asian tour, and the magician has said that the Beijing leg will feature the most impressive tricks of the tour.

Liu refused to shed light on his props, which were bought from the United States for a huge sum of money, according to Sohu.com. However, the Web site managed to learn of one device that will give audiences an illusion of time travel. The report says Liu will use the prop to perform a trick for which he was inspired by the "anywhere door" in the Japanese anime "Doraemon". In the animation, one can travel anywhere by passing through the door.

Liu Qian became extremely popular on the Chinese mainland ever since impressing the audience at China Central Television's Spring Festival gala earlier this year.

(CRI July 23, 2009)