To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, "Shakespeare Lives," a series of cultural and educational activities, will be co-organized by the British Council in China and the GREAT British Campaign & Northern Ireland, according to a press conference held at Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) on Thursday. 

"Shakespeare Lives" will include various activities such as stage plays, films, concerts and educational programs that will be held throughout 2016.

The "King and Country" tour for example, will see plays like Henry IV and Henry V reach stages in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong from February to April.

Then during mid-June, a Shakespeare film season is scheduled to kick off in Shanghai. The event will feature a number of films from throughout film history such as early silent films and contemporary works.

In addition to performances, a series of English learning programs targeting students and teachers will be offered. 

"For the UK, 2015 beckoned the golden era between UK and China… 2016 sees us building on that exciting year through our phenomenal 'Shakespeare Lives' program here in China," British Ambassador to China Barbara Woodward said in a statement.

The year 2016 also marks the 400-year anniversary of the death of Chinese playwright Tang Xianzu. A number of activities will be held this year exploring the works of Tang and Shakespeare together.

For instance, Britain's Gecko and the Shanghai Drama Art Center are currently working on a performance that will combine Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream with Tang's The Peony Pavilion.