Children learn Chinese by drawing Spring Festival posters

The school launched the poster contest a few weeks before the Chinese New Year, so ethnic Chinese children can learn about the traditional Chinese festival while non-Chinese children can have a better understanding of Chinese culture, Xu says.

"For the ethnic Chinese children, this is the way to help them hold on to their cultural roots," Xu says, adding that most of her students are all born and raised in Britain.

Han Dong, chief executive officer of the London-based Creative Time Media, says the participants were very creative.

"The posters were in different styles," Han says. "They show you many things which are very Chinese, culturally."

"For example, the use of bright color and the poster layout give you a feeling that a high-speed Chinese train is traveling across Asia and Europe along the Silk Road," Han says.

"Some posters show the children's love of China and Chinese culture."

Kim Botting, a councilor from Orpington Ward in the London borough of Bromley, says: "It is very important to learn Chinese because Chinese is the language of the 21st century."

"I will continue to encourage more British children to learn Chinese."

The Real Chinese Academy was founded in 2006 and it is dedicated to teaching children Chinese and spreading Chinese culture in London.