A Mandarin school in East Sheen called in the ‘year of the Ox’ with a lively online display.

The UK Little Panda Mandarin and Drama school hosts a big celebration every Chinese New Year.

But this year, the school on Vernon Rd brought together the two cultures under very different circumstances.

Chinese New Year began on February 12 and celebrations will last for 16 days.

The date marks the start of the lunar new year, which is the start of a new moon.

Little Pandas previous Chinese New Year celebrations

Little Panda's previous Chinese New Year celebrations

Lead by Little Panda's head of Drama, local actor Max Gold, the students performed poems, took part in a quiz and presented their pets to each other.

They shared video performances including highlights of their previous New Year celebrations.

Counsellor Lu from the UK’s Chinese Embassy attended and gave a speech.

Sitting amid a backdrop of a Christmas tree topped by a Chinese Lantern, he combined UK and Chinese cultures.

Little Pandas Zoom celebration

Little Panda's Zoom celebration

Mandarin teacher, Xiaoyu shi, said:

“This event is an annual fixture and although the young people were not able to rehearse an episode of the Chinese classic 'Journey to the West,' as in previous years, or prepare group dance routines, nothing could crush the wonderful spirit with which they joined in the year of the Ox celebrations.”

“Little Panda look forward to returning to a live new year gala next year but were thrilled that, even with the current challenges, the year of the Ox celebrations took place with such good spirit.”