CITCM Roadshow Brings Chinese Cultural Performances and Workshops to Local Schools and Communities

During the Chinese New Year period, from mid-January to early March 2026, the Confucius Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine (CITCM) once again delivered an extensive cultural outreach programme across London and beyond. The Institute’s professional performance team visited primary and secondary schools, as well as other local community organisations, staging around 50 performances and conducting more than 170 interactive workshops. The roadshow offered thousands of participants an engaging opportunity to experience rich and diverse aspects of Chinese culture.

Across London and beyond, teachers and school leaders praised both the high quality of the stage performances and the commendable educational value of the workshops, while many of them already enthusiastically expressed their eagerness of welcoming the team back next year. Mr Aloum, Principal of Clara Grant Primary School, for instance shared his feedback after our team’s visit: “The children learnt so much about Chinese culture and were amazed by the talent of the singers, musicians, dancers and martial artists. The performers were so lovely to work alongside, and the children learnt many new skills during the workshops.”

Why has the roadshow always been so warmly received and popular over the years? The answer lies in its unique combination of artistic excellence, cultural authenticity, and audience participation. Each programme is carefully designed to showcase the various genres of Chinese culture, such as lion dance, martial arts, folk dances, folk songs, traditional musical instruments, calligraphy and painting. Every performance combines professional artistry with interactive storytelling, creating an enjoyable and memorable cultural journey for audiences of all ages.

Among all the inspiring performances, martial arts and lion dance proved to be the favourites. Many pupils described them as the highlights of the day, some even saying that they "kept getting goosebumps" while watching the performance.

The cultural experience extends far beyond the stage. CITCM's interactive workshops afford the students opportunities to explore Chinese culture through hands-on experimenting and learning. Martial arts: students learnt basic movements and practised Wing Chun spirit and techniques. Musical instruments: students were introduced to erhu and guzheng, and even had a chance to play simple melodies on these instruments. Folk songs: students were led on a musical grand tour across different regions of China before learning to sing a Chinese folk song. Folk dancing: participants learnt distinctive dance movements originating from different parts of the country. Finally, calligraphy and ink painting: students were helped to explore the use of brushes and practised brush techniques under the guidance of experienced instructors. Together, these captivating activities encouraged students’ curiosity, nurtured their creativity, and deepened their appreciation of Chinese culture.