Artisans build more complete picture of China

And somehow, surprisingly, a significant portion of these unofficial cultural exchange ambassadors are young people, with many of them having spent time living or studying in the West, Zhang said.

"Stepping out often makes it easier for us to reflect on our cultural background and roots," she said.

At this year's London Craft Week, China Garden staged an exhibition showcasing the talents of eight esteemed makers and artists in ceramics, textiles and silverware, and was by no means the only Chinese contributor to the event.

The 10th edition of London Craft Week, held from May 13 to May 19, witnessed the largest-ever participation from Chinese artists, with a total of four organizations involved, supported by the Cultural Section of China's Embassy in the UK.