Drums, Ink and Festive Joy: MBL Chinese New Year Family Cultural Day Successfully Held at Charing Cross Library
The Mothers’ Bridge of Love × Charing Cross Library
Cultural Exchange Event Concludes Successfully
On 22 February 2026, The Mothers’ Bridge of Love successfully hosted the MBL Chinese New Year Family Cultural Day at Charing Cross Library in London. Centred on Chinese New Year traditions, the event brought together traditional arts experiences, ethnic costume interaction, lion and dragon dance performances, and book signing with Chinese authors. It offered local families an open, inclusive and warmly engaging cultural celebration.
According to the library data, recorded entries and exits between 11:00 and 15:00 totalled 2,100. Based on on-site estimates, approximately 1,000 people participated in the interactive activities in various forms.
A Festive Opening: The Lion and Dragon Dance & Custome Showcase
The event opened with vibrant lion and dragon dance performances. The rhythmic drums and lively movements immediately drew attention, attracting both library visitors and passers-by. The performances created a strong festive atmosphere and naturally connected audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds.
The children’s ethnic minority costume showcase and interactive try-on session soon brought the energy to a new height. Guided by volunteers, children changed into traditional ethnic garments and confidently stepped onto the stage. Many non-Chinese families also joined the experience, exploring the richness and diversity of Chinese costume culture in a relaxed and welcoming setting.
Immersive Experiences: Traditional Arts Activities
The Cultural Day featured three traditional arts activities:
Rubbing art printing: Popular for its striking visual results and simple technique.
Calligraphy: Participants of all ages were drawn to the calligraphy table. Many families completed works featuring characters such as “Luck” and “Spring”, embellishing them with gold decorations.
Paper cutting: The paper cutting station remained lively throughout the day, with red paper designs and window decorations becoming powerful symbols of the festival.
Many parents commented that it was the first time their children had truly experienced traditional Chinese arts hands-on rather than simply observing them.
Reading and Dialogue: Authors Meet Readers
The event also featured a curated book display and invited three authors to engage in conversation and book signing, adding intellectual depth and cultural substance to the celebration.
Diya Wen presented her book Everyone Has to Grow Up on Their Own, which focuses on personal growth and life experience. She spoke with readers about maturity, self-awareness and the rhythm of modern life.
Pu Zhang, pen name Xiao Hei, introduced his novel A Tibetan Girl Called Ata. Through character and setting, the book presents a distinctive life story and cultural perspective.
Professor Hugo De Burgh has long been engaged in research on UK–China cultural exchange and contemporary Chinese issues. His featured titles included:
The reading display area also showcased several notable cultural works:
Haha! Britain, a bilingual public-interest anthology jointly produced by MBL and River Cam Breeze magazine. A book that gathers stories from Chinese writers in the UK, capturing with humour and honesty their experiences of cultural encounters, identity and integration.
Wild Mary, written by Patrick Marnham. This biography tells the remarkable story of the bestselling British novelist Mary Wesley and explores how her unconventional life shaped her literary work.
Yinyin’s Suitcase, the debut novel by young writer Jing Wang. This inspirational and reflective story follows a Chinese girl raised in traditional culture who faces hardship abroad, pursues her dreams and ultimately achieves personal transformation and redemption.
Beyond the Festival: Culture as a Bridge
This cultural exchange was not only a festive celebration but also a vivid example of cross-cultural engagement in practice. Families from different backgrounds participated actively, and warm parent–child interactions unfolded naturally. The combination of traditional arts and thoughtful reading transformed the public cultural space into a welcoming platform for dialogue.
In London’s multicultural environment, events like this provide an equal, open and gentle space for communication among diverse communities, fostering deeper connections through understanding and participation