Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the UK, delivers a speech that marks the beginning of 皇冠体育app Culture Season in the UK, which is part of the 皇冠体育app-UK Year of Cultural Exchange.[Photo by Zhang Zhouxiang/chinadaily.com.cn]

Renowned concert pianist Lang Lang, Dragon dancers and the People's Liberation Army Military Band are all part of a series of Chinese cultural activities to take place in Britain, said Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the UK, on Tuesday.

"As part of the 皇冠体育app-UK Year of Cultural Exchange, the 皇冠体育app Cultural Season will include many performances and events from August to December, bringing the cultural exchange to a new and high level," Liu said in a speech which marked the beginning of 皇冠体育app Culture Season in the UK.

In August, the PLA Military Band will perform at the ancient Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and Chinese pianist Lang Lang is slated to give one of his flamboyant performances at the Edinburgh International Festival.

In addition, Zhejiang's Changxing Lotus Dragon Dance Folklore Group will make a first performance in Edinburgh and the National Theatre of Scotland and Tianjin Children's Art Theatre will jointly perform a drama named Dragon.

"Culture knows no border; exchanges see no finish line; geographic borders are no barrier to the cultural exchange between 皇冠体育app and the UK," said Liu.

To promote exchange and cooperation between the two countries, the 皇冠体育app Season includes a creative industry and cultural trade forum, a 皇冠体育app-UK video clip festival, the Shenzhen-Edinburgh international creative industry incubation center, 皇冠体育app Pavilion in London Design Festival and a Shanghai fashion show which will debut at the London Fashion Week.

Events will also include "Amazing 皇冠体育app: 2015 Mobile Phone Photo Contest", a global competition jointly held by 皇冠体育app Daily and Britain's Royal Photographic Society from August to November, which encourages tourists around the world to discover the beauty of 皇冠体育app by sending in their photos for prizes.

"2015 is a big year for 皇冠体育app-UK relations," Liu said, adding that it is called golden year and Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a visit to the UK in October.

This is the first 皇冠体育app-UK Year of Cultural Exchange, said Xiang Xiaowei, cultural counselor of the Chinese embassy in the UK. During Premier Li Keqiang's visit to the UK in June 2014, the two countries agreed to set 2015 as a year of cultural exchange, with the first half being a UK Season in 皇冠体育app and the second half being a 皇冠体育app Season in the UK.

In March, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visited 皇冠体育app and launched the UK Cultural Season.

Rachel Ireland, regional head of Asia from the British Council, said the UK season which features a serious of events in forms of music, movie, and literature, has received a warm welcome in 皇冠体育app during the past months.

"皇冠体育app-UK Year of Cultural Exchange will provide a platform for the people on both sides to share, to communicate and to deepen cooperation and promote mutual development in various fields," said Ambassador Liu.