China National Tourist Office, London

18/06/2026

The lead dancers of “Meeting the Grand Canal” from the Hangzhou Opera and Dance Drama Theatre will appear at Camden Market in London, delivering a dance flash mob performance filled with Eastern charm by the canalside.

The performers will improvise their dance in harmony with the local space, using body language to tell the story of the Grand Canal’s millennial cultural heritage. They will also engage in immersive interactions with the audience, allowing Chinese culture to flow naturally through the streets of London.

“Meeting the Grand Canal” is China’s first dance drama themed around the communication of cultural heritage. With the protection of the Grand Canal’s history and culture as its core storyline, it presents the canal’s thousands of years of history and cultural inheritance through four acts: “Digging”, “Prosperity”, “Oblivion”, and “Re-encountering the Canal”.

15/06/2026

Canals Connect Past and Present, Dance Builds Bridges: “Meet the Grand Canal” Flash Mob Appears in London to Celebrate UN International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations

On 9 June, London enjoyed fine and sunny weather. The waters of the Camden Canal glistened as colourful barges rested quietly by the banks amidst lush greenery, unfolding a leisurely British waterfront atmosphere. Right within this picturesque canal landscape, a stunning dance flash mob from the East took the stage.

Nearly 30 young dancers from the Jiangnan water towns, dressed in elegant traditional Chinese-style attire, danced by the water and moved gracefully to the music. They brought the millennium-long rise and fall of the China Grand Canal, along with the gentle and elegant charm of the Jiangnan water towns, to this British waterfront filled with Western romance.

The event was hosted by the China National Tourists Office (CNTO) London, with the Hangzhou Opera and Dance Theatre delivering a passionate performance of highlights from the classic dance drama Meet the Grand Canal. The event coincided with the arrival of the third UN International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations (10 June).

It also forms an important component of the overseas promotion of the “Nihao! China” national tourism brand, serving as a vivid practice of cultural and tourism cooperation between China and the UK.

Two Canals Meet, Civilisations Look Upon Each Other

If the River Thames is the surging urban artery of London, then the criss-crossing canals around the Camden area are the city’s quiet and elegant cultural threads. Built during the Industrial Revolution and shaped by over a century of history, these waterways have long shed their busy freight-carrying past to become a wonderful place for residents to stroll, cycle, and experience the hustle and bustle of daily life.

10/06/2026

Language as a Bridge, Chinese Language Building Dreams：The 25th “Chinese Bridge” UK Regional Final and the Selection of the “2026 UK Chinese Tourism Promotion Ambassador”

In the early summer, London welcomed a grand cultural event as the grand final of the 25th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students UK Regional Final was held here with great distinction.

Nearly 100 students from 14 UK universities gathered for the preliminary rounds. Following successive rounds of selection, 11 exceptional young individuals stood out to advance to the grand final.

Following intense competition, Maryam from the University of Nottingham won the championship of this year’s competition with an outstanding performance.

Talia Claudia Dicks from the University of Edinburgh stood out with her exceptional spoken Chinese, genuine cultural insight, and composed stage presence, earning the title of “2026 UK Chinese Tourism Promotion Ambassador”. Zhang Li, Director of the China National Tourists Office (CNTO) London, presented her with the certificate of honour at the event.

10/06/2026

Civilizations Are Enriched by Exchange: 2026 UN “International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations” Series of Themed Events to be Held Across the UK
On 10 June 2026, we will mark the United Nations’ “International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations”.

To thoroughly implement the Global Civilization Initiative, support the overseas promotion of the “Nihao! China” national tourism identity, and further deepen cultural and tourism exchanges between China and the UK, the China National Tourists Office (CNTO) London will curate and host a series of themed events celebrating the “International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations” across multiple locations in the UK throughout June 2026.

This series of events encompasses diverse formats, including dance flash mobs, dragon boat cultural exchanges, the Dragon Boat Festival, art lectures, and the Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival. Using culture as a bridge and tourism as a medium, the events aim to showcase the charm of fine traditional Chinese culture, promote mutual learning between Chinese and British civilizations, and foster closer bonds between their peoples.

Stay tuned for more event details and updates!

CNTO London is a non-profit organisation promoting all aspects of Chinese culture in the UK & beyond.

05/06/2026

CNTO London Visits Newcastle for Cultural and Tourism Exchange, Exploring Beiyang Fleet Heritage and Boost Practical Sino-British Cooperation

From 27 to 28 May, a delegation led by Zhang Li, Director of the China National Tourist Office (CNTO) London, and Pan Hang, Assistant Director of CNTO London, visited Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. The delegation met with local cultural and museum institutions, tourism authorities, and historical heritage conservation organisations.

They engaged in face-to-face discussions focusing on the protection and utilisation of the Beiyang Fleet’s overseas relics, the alignment of Sino-British cultural and tourism resources, the joint curation of museum exhibitions, and the two-way exchange of tourism markets. Relying on the profound historical ties between the two regions, the visit aimed to deepen and solidify cultural and tourism cooperation between the North East of England and China.

29/05/2026

China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair

ICIF is the only national standard, international and integrated cultural fair in China, which is approved by UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry), and it is China's earliest-established and largest-scale cultural industry fair.

Since its establishment in Shenzhen in 2004, ICIF has always adhered to righteousness and innovation and consistently centered on exhibitions and transactions, striving to build a platform for trading Chinese cultural products and projects while promoting and driving the development of China's cultural industry. The exhibition area has grown from 45,000 square meters at the first edition to 160,000 square meters at the 21st edition. The number of exhibitors has increased from more than 700 to 6,280 at the 21st edition. And the number of participating countries and regions has risen from 10 to 110 at the 21st edition. In recent years, the ICIF has attracted over 120,000 cultural and creative products from around the world each year, along with more than 4,000 cultural industry investment and financing projects showcased and traded on-site. Its influence now extends to over 100 countries and regions worldwide. The ICIF has become the largest scale, the highest specification, most effective and most influential exhibition in the field of China’s cultural industries. It serves as a vital engine driving China's cultural industry development, a key platform for promoting Chinese culture, and an important window for expanding the opening-up of the cultural sector. Its status as ‘The Top Cultural Fair in China’ continues to solidify, and it is striving to become ‘The Top Cultural Fair in the world’.

24/05/2026

“Nihao! China” Campaign Features in Glasgow as CNTO London Deepens Tourism Marketing Collaboration in Scotland

On 21 May, as a key component of the UK promotional campaign for the 16th “China Tourism Day” in 2026, a delegation led by Zhang Li, Director of the China National Tourists Office (CNTO) London, travelled to Glasgow, Scotland, to attend the Glasgow leg of the ANTOR (Association of National Tourist Office Representatives) tourism industry workshop.

Centred around the theme “Enjoy Quality Travel, Explore Scenic Land”, the event delivered in-depth presentations and networking opportunities tailored for the Scottish tourism trade. The initiative aims to further deepen tourism cooperation between China, the UK, and Scotland, while continuing to boost the growing interest among British tourists visiting China.

During the visit, Director Zhang Li and his delegation also paid official visits to the Glasgow Tourism Board and related tourism promotion agencies, holding working discussions with Anne-Marie Gray, Tourism and Sustainability Manager at Glasgow Life, and
Anna Young, Head of Tourism Marketing for Glasgow, among others. The two sides engaged in in-depth communication regarding the recovery of the Chinese and Scottish tourism markets, city tourism promotion, growth trends in international visitors, and future opportunities for collaboration.

24/05/2026

“Nihao! China” Campaign Comes to Manchester as UK Tourism to China Continues to Gain Momentum

On 20 May local time, coinciding with the 16th “China Tourism Day” activities, the China National Tourist Office (CNTO) London travelled to Manchester to participate in the Association of National Tourist Office Representatives (ANTOR) industry promotion event, promoting China’s cultural and tourism resources to the travel industry in Northern England. This event helped widely disseminate the “Nihao! China” national tourism image and steadily boosted interest in UK tourism to China.

24/05/2026

CNTO London Features at ANTOR Tourism Industry Showcase

On 18 May local time, the Association of National Tourist Offices in the UK (ANTOR) held its annual industry showcase London session as scheduled. Coinciding with the arrival of the 16th “China Tourism Day”, Zhang Li, Director of the China National Tourist Office (CNTO) London, and Pan Hang, Assistant Director of CNTO London, attended and featured at the event. Centred around the theme “Enjoy Quality Travel, Explore Scenic Land”, they carried out China cultural and tourism promotions, working together to deepen practical collaboration between China and the UK in the cultural and tourism sectors.
During the country presentation segment, the CNTO London showcased the latest cultural and tourism promotional video, “China Travel — Nihao! China”, on-site. They provided detailed introductions to the latest developmental achievements, such as visa optimization and facilitation, digital payment applications, and smart travel services, vividly showcasing the diverse cultural and tourism charm of China, where ancient cultural heritage, urban landscapes, and ecological scenery harmoniously coexist. The presentation earned unanimous praise and high recognition from the attending guests.

22/05/2026

From Xu Xiake to a Global Trend: Encountering the Beauty of China in London on the 16th China Tourism Day
May 19th, a day synonymous with poetry and distant horizons, marked the 16th ‘China Tourism Day’. 413 years ago, Xu Xiake embarked on a journey from the West Gate of Ninghai, measuring the vast rivers and mountains with his footsteps and penning travelogues that have echoed through the ages.

Today, under the theme ‘Enjoy Quality Tourism, Journey to Beautiful Landscapes Together’, the China National Tourist Office (CNTO) London has sincerely brought the poetic landscapes and vibrant local essence of China to the streets of the UK, igniting a surging enthusiasm for travel to China.

London Promotional Event: Visa-Free Benefits Ignite Travel Enthusiasm

On May 19th, local time in London, a vibrant promotional event dedicated to Chinese tourism was grandly launched. CNTO London, in collaboration with the renowned UK-based China travel specialist Wendy Wu Tours, invited over 60 key travel agencies and industry representatives from across the UK to gather and explore new opportunities within Chinese tourism.