Recently, one of the most well-renounced Chinese performing artists and the national first-class actor, Liu Xiaolingtong visited London and were invited by the Institute of Chinese Traditional Culture to hold a lecture on "Spreading the Culture of Journey to the West and Promoting the Spirit of Xuanzang" in SOAS. 

Liu, Xiaolingtong, whose original name was Jin Laizhang, was born in the family of the famous "Zhang-style Monkey Opera" and is best known for his role as the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) in the 1986 CCTV television series, Journey to the West, adapted from the classic Chinese novel of the same name. The Monkey King's “journey to the west” this time is to spread the culture of Journey to the West overseas, so that more people can understand and recognise this great Chinese novel.

The lecture theatre in SOAS was full of audience, including the young generations in their 20s and teenagers, some audiences even came from Leeds, Bath. Liu Xiaolingtong shared his experience of learning the Monkey Opera from his father and brothers, interesting episodes in the filmming of Journey to the West, and his internal journey as the cultural communicator. His humour and vivid performance aroused ceaseless applause and laughter. Some of the audience were so touched and burst into tears.

At the end of the event, Liu Xiaolingtong was invited by the audience to perform the Golden Hoop excerpt. The whole lecture was concluded with the fascinating performance.