Dream comes true for Chinese twin Peppa Pig fans as they visit the UK
The Chinese twins who posted a video message on the social media channel, Weibo, asking to visit Buckingham Palace will touch down in the UK today (August 7).
Dream comes true for Chinese twin Peppa Pig fans as they visit the UK
The UK’s national tourist agency Visit Britain and the British Embassy Beijing have worked with Chinese Youku Kids Channel to organise the one-week-long trip for the twin’s family.
Christina Scott, the Chargé d’Affaires at the British Embassy in Beijing said:
I was really touched by Mi Ai and Mi Ni’s story and I’m delighted that we have been able to make their dream come true.
I hope that this is a truly memorable visit for them and that their trip inspires more Chinese families to travel to the UK to enjoy the richness of our history, culture and sport.
Staff from the British Embassy Beijing saw the twins off at the Beijing International Airport, and wished them a good trip with gift bags sponsored by British food companies Narin’s, Burts and Annabel Karmel.
Dai Wei, VP of Alibaba Group, Senior VP of Youku, Sports & Kids said:
Seeing Mi Ni and Mi Ai starting their journey today, we are just as excited as them. We are very honored that our users approach us when they want to realize their dreams.
In keeping our mission ‘accompany with kids to explore the wonder of the world’, Youku Kids cherishes and respects their dream, provides them with high quality content and innovative experience. We are really happy to be with them creating something fun and cool.
In December 2018 Mi Ni and Mi Ai shared their new year’s wishes on Weibo after watching an episode of Peppa Pig where their favourite cartoon character meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
The video went viral after Dame Barbara Woodward, the British ambassador to China, replied to them and invited the twins to the Ambassador’s Residence to have afternoon tea, where she told them she wanted to help make their dream come true.
Manuel Alvarez, VisitBritain Director said:
Family and fun are at the heart of this activity and we are delighted to welcome these young fans of Britain from the world’s largest outbound visitor market and hope they encourage more Chinese travellers to discover all that Britain has to offer.
VisitBritain is supporting the increase in route capacity for Chinese visitors enabling them to explore more of Britain and the tourism sector deal recently announced by the UK Government will help further our efforts.
2018 was a record year for visits from China to the UK, up 16% on 2017, and over 3.5 times the visits in 2008. Spend reached £657 million in 2018, over 4.5 times the 2008 spending levels.
The Chinese rate Britain highly. Amongst 50 contending nations, the UK is ranked as the No.2 for its nation brand overall, for tourism, culture and for people, and No. 3 country the Chinese would likely to visit if money were no object.