By China.org.cn staff reporter Wang Ke

Hugging an armful of introduction documents and fliers, 20-year-old Zhang Xiaowen from Beijing Normal University pushed her way through the crowd to the exhibition stand of London University's Goldsmiths College.

Having taken English as her major for over two years, she is planning to study at a British University.

The Beijing leg of the 2009 China Education Expo is being held from February 28 to March 1 at the World Trade Exhibition Hall, Beijing. [China.org.cn/Wang Ke]

The Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy in China put on the largest and most impressive show at the 2009 China Education Expo, being held from February 28 to March 15. Zhang told China.org.cn: "I heard there was a big exhibition on, so I came along to find out more about studying overseas, particular in the UK."

"Lots of universities have set up information desks; London University, Loughborough University, the University of Warwick and so on. I have found out lots about the different colleges," she said.

The UK section features around 70 learning institutions, including universities, further education colleges, language schools, and arts and design institutes, presenting a multitude of options for people interested in studying in the UK.

Jazreel Goh Yeun, director of education marketing of the British Embassy's Culture and Education Section, said Chinese students and their parents can talk face to face with representatives of education institutions, and collect the latest and most accurate information to help them make informed choices. She said: "UK education is widely recognized by Chinese students and parents as among the best, with high quality education resources, internationally recognized qualifications, and simple application procedures for both study visas and post study work visas."

According to the British Council, visa applications from Chinese students to study in the UK in the first six months of 2008 increased 46% over the same period in 2007. 23,000 Chinese students were granted visas to study in the UK in 2007, and the success rate for visa applications was 82 percent in China as a whole, and 90 percent in Beijing. There are 60,000 Chinese students in the UK at present, of whom 51,000 are studying at higher education institutions.