Q: Dear Uncle Wang,

Everyone has been talking about Prince William's visit to Shanghai over the last two days. Why are people so interested in him and his visit to China?

A: The first ever visit of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, to China has dominated the front pages of Chinese media over the past two days. His visit is highly valued by both the Chinese and British governments, as well as the people of China.

Prince William's trip is important because it is the first visit by a member of the British royal family to China since his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, came in 1986. The main purpose of his visit is to boost cultural and business ties between China and the UK.

Prince William started his tour in Beijing, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and visited the Forbidden City and a museum in a hutong. In Shanghai Monday evening, he opened the GREAT Festival of Creativity that showcases British's creativity and innovation.

On Tuesday, he watched secondary school students undergo football training by English Premier League coaches. In the evening, he met with representatives of the Chinese film industry and attended the premiere of the movie Paddington in China. The British-French film is about a Paddington bear in London.

As a noted animal lover, Prince William will conclude his trip to China Wednesday with a visit to a nature preserve in Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province.

Although Chinese people may not be incredibly familiar with the British royal family, they are increasingly attracted to British culture as exemplified by some popular television shows such as Downton Abbey and Sherlock, as well as English football.

Many renowned British private schools, such as Wellington College and Dulwich College, have built campuses in Shanghai. The British schools are increasingly welcomed by Chinese parents, who consider the British education system to be outstanding.

In terms of business, the UK became the most popular investment destination for Chinese companies in Europe last year. Some Chinese companies such as Wanda Group have expressed an interest in investing more in the UK.

As a widely recognized member of the British royal family, Prince William is the best ambassador to promote British culture. In Beijing, he launched the UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange, which celebrates the rich culture of both countries this year.

Prince William's visit to China is fruitful for both countries, although his wife Kate was absent because of her pregnancy. People in China look forward to seeing the royal couple again soon, perhaps with their children next time.