A roundup of all the best Chinese events in London this December including historical talks, music performances, Christmas drinks and more.
It feels like this year has flown by, but now we’ve come to the final events roundup of the year. As always, there are lots of events to choose from and most are packed into the first half of the month before we all get consumed by final preparations for Christmas.
Please note China Minutes are not affiliated with nor are we endorsing any of the events below. AI is not used in producing this newsletter.
China Nerdfest Christmas Drinks
Held in a central London pub, China Nerdfest is a casual meet-up for anyone with an interest or background in China. It’s a chance to meet like-minded, seasoned China watchers and Mandarin learners.
When: 6:00 – 9:00 pm December 3rd
Where:Â Central London, Register for details
Website:Â https://luma.com/xsv5kwp4
UK-China Tech Forum
The UK-China Tech Forum, organised by the China-Britain Business Council and techUK, convenes senior figures from business, government, and academia to connect, share knowledge, and explore the opportunities shaping UK-China collaboration.
When: 2:30 – 5:00pm, December 4th
Where:Â techUK, 10 St Bride Street, London, EC4A 4AD
Website: https://www.cbbc.org/events/uk-china-tech-forum-1
CIBL Lecture: China as a Superpower during the Ming Period, 1368–1644 AD
An event for those more interested in looking back at Chinese history, this talk is an evidence-based exploration of China during the Ming Period (1368–1644) , when the empire stood as a global leader in science, technology, trade, GDP and many other fields.
When: 6:00 – 8:00pm, December 5th
Where: 54 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LJ
Website: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cibl-lecture-china-as-a-superpower-during-the-ming-period-13681644-ad-tickets-1975273479149?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Lucy Raven’s China Town
In China Town (2009), Raven follows the journey of copper from an open-pit mine in Nevada to China’s Three Gorges Dam, revealing how landscapes are transformed, exploited, repurposed and abandoned as global industries shift. The Barbican will screen this documentary in a double bill with Opération Béton (1955).
When: 6:30pm, December 5th
Where: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS
Website: https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/event/lucy-ravens-china-town-jean-luc-godards-operation-beton
Mountain Gift Christmas Market 2025
A pop-up Christmas market organised by Yi Crafts. If it is anything like their market last year, there will be lots of great products on offer. As well as market stalls, there will be Yunnan Rice Milk Tea on offer and cultural workshops.
When: 11 am – 6 pm, December 6th – 7th  Â
Where: Yi Crafts Event Space, 60 Neasden Ln, London, NW10 2UW
Website: https://yicrafts.com/events/2025/12/6/mountain-gift-christmas-market
People’s Square – On the Ground in China
The Winter Salon of On the Ground in China by People’s Square will host two reporters with a China background who have both recently spent time on the ground in China. ​Elaine Chong and Robert Postings will both share their thoughts and insights into the country.
When: 6:00 – 8:00pm, December 9th
Where: LSE Old Building, Houghton St, London WC2A 2AE, UK
Website: https://luma.com/zig4zbve
Lunchtime Recital – Ruifan Xuan (piano)
A solo piano recital presented in association with the Royal College of Music. Part of a series of Lunchtime Recitals held by St Pancras New Church. Ruifan Xuan is an internationally acclaimed concert pianist. She was recently awarded the prestigious Artist Diploma in Performance from the Royal College of Music in London.
When: 1:10 am – 1:50pm, December 11th
Where: St Pancras New Church, Euston Road, London, NW1 2BA
Website: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lunchtime-recital-ruifan-xuan-piano-tickets-1763629044949?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Partner, Competitor, Rival: Where Will EU-China Relations Be in 2026?
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the European Union and China. But despite the symbolic milestone, both sides continue to disagree on trade imbalances, export controls and security concerns. Young China Watchers London is bringing together leading thinktankers, academics and analysts to discuss expectations for EU-China relations in 2026.
When: 6:30 – 8:00pm, December 11th
Where: Bush House, 30 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4BG
Website: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/partner-competitor-rival-where-will-eu-china-relations-be-in-2026-tickets-1976421921170?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1
CITYPERC Seminar – Johannes Petry – China and Wall Street
In recent decades, the relationship between Wall Street and China has become one of the most consequential yet understudied forces in the global political economy. This project argues that a closer examination of the Wall-Street China relationship reveals a more complex story of global economic transformation.
When: 5:00 – 6:30pm, December 12th
Where:Â Rhind Building, Saint John Street, London, EC1R 0JD
Website:Â https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cityperc-seminar-johannes-petry-china-and-wall-street-tickets-1687380854559
Jokes, Jams & Jingles: Tangram x CCCC Comedy and Music Night
Join Tangram + Camden Chinese Community Centre (CCCC) to ring in the holiday season in style! Tangram is presenting a music and comedy extravaganza as a joint community fundraiser with CCCC. There will be a dynamic programme of traditional and contemporary Chinese music by world-class artists hosted by comedian Sam See.
When: 6:30 – 9:00pm, December 12th
Where:Â Camden Chinese Community Centre, 9 Tavistock Place, WC1H 9SN
Website:Â https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jokes-jams-jingles-tangram-x-cccc-comedy-and-music-night-tickets-1956733385229
Urban China Symposium: Rethinking China’s urban governance
Join the China Planning Research Group for the next instalment exploring ‘Urban China Symposium: Rethinking China’s urban governance’. After an introduction to the project, Professor George C.S. Lin at the University of Hong Kong and Professor Jane Duckett at the University of Glasgow will deliver two keynote speeches on China’s urban governance.
When: 2:00 – 6:00 pm, December 15th
Where: G01 Central House, Upper Woburn Place, London, WC1H 0NN
Website: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/urban-china-symposium-rethinking-chinas-urban-governance-tickets-1967621452732?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Duan Jianyu: Yúqiáo
The inaugural exhibition of the newly launched YDP space, Duan Jianyu: Yúqiáo is the artist’s first major solo show in the UK in over a decade. The exhibition centres on Yúqiáo, a classical Chinese motif depicting a fisherman and a woodcutter as reclusive archetypes who reflect on human histories from a contemplative distance.
When: Exhibition runs until December 20th
Where: 19 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3JA
Website: https://www.ydp.co/exhibitions/duan-jianyu-yuqiao
If you like this article, why not read: From London to Lishui, Reimagining Rural Life Through Art
