The British round of the 2023 Chinese Culture Paradise-Camp kicks off in London on Oct 21, with the aim of offering young overseas Chinese a close look at Chinese traditional culture. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A Chinese cultural camp aimed at helping young overseas Chinese reconnect with their motherland kicked off in London on Oct 21.

The British round of the event, which is set to run until Oct 31, offers a variety of free courses for more than 100 overseas teenagers in the United Kingdom to have a taste of traditional Chinese culture, including martial arts, calligraphy, paper-cutting, and more.

The activity was initiated by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council in 2011. Each year, the liaison office in charge of external relations in each participating Chinese province collaborates with overseas Chinese communities and sends a delegation of teachers to one or more countries.

Since its launch, the event has gained much popularity among young overseas Chinese around the world. Before landing in the UK this year, similar sessions had been staged in countries including Laos, Malaysia, Portugal, Spain and Italy.

Teachers from Qingdao, in East China's Shandong province, perform Chinese folk dance on Oct 21 in London at the opening ceremony of the British round of the 2023 Chinese Culture Paradise-Camp. [Photo provided to China Daily]

For the London camp, 12 teachers from Qingdao, in East China's Shandong province, came to offer support, allowing students to discover the enchantment of Qilu culture, said Mao Zhicheng, director of the UK Chinese Art Centre, the organizer of this year's UK event.

Qilu refers to the kingdoms of the Qi and Lu, in what is now modern-day Shandong, before the founding of the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC). 

Wang Bingbing, deputy director of the Office of Consular and Overseas Chinese Affairs at the Chinese Embassy to the UK, expressed gratitude for the contributions made by UK-based Chinese communities to promote Chinese culture overseas.

"The Chinese communities in the UK have played active roles in promoting our profound motherland culture and facilitating Sino-British cultural exchanges. I hope that through the event this year, more young overseas Chinese could appreciate the charm of Chinese culture," said Wang.

Teachers from Qingdao showcase Chinese martial arts on Oct 21 in London at the opening ceremony of the British round of the 2023 Chinese Culture Paradise-Camp. [Photo provided to China Daily]