Themed Golden Dreams, Harmonious Spring, the Spring Festival gala featured Chinese folk music, opera, dance, martial arts performances, and more, all to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Snake, which starts on Jan 30.

Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West was also brought to life on stage.

Li Yuexing, from the Starry Sky Art Troupe at the Communication University of Kunming, in Southwest China's Yunnan province, said: "With the success of the Chinese video game Black Myth: Wukong, we see it as a great opportunity to introduce more people to Chinese culture, starting with the story of Wukong."

He said the art troupe will also perform in Liverpool, Glasgow, and other cities in the UK.

"I was really happy to see many British children recognizing me as Monkey King and coming up to ask for photos," Li said. "We also gave them small gifts, like Spring Festival couplets and Chinese knot hairpins."

Alistair Fitt, vice-chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, said at the event that he wished all in attendance a joyful and prosperous Year of the Snake, and expressed hope for the promotion of cultural understanding and friendship between China and the UK.

Zhu Xueer contributed to this story.