Leon from Iceland: Kung Fu Panda Sparked His Love for China, Leading Him to Master Face-Changing, the Bamboo Flute, and Calligraphy

Leon Alexander Sebastiansson, a 2026 China Soong Ching Ling Foundation Junior Cultural Ambassador, is a 12-year-old from Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. His journey with the Chinese language began seven years ago, inspired by the animated film Kung Fu Panda.

His passion goes far beyond words. Every summer, his parents take him to Chengdu to study Chinese culture. He has learned the face-changing art of Sichuan Opera, plays the bamboo flute, paints in the traditional Chinese style, practices Chinese calligraphy, and even knows some Chinese kung fu.

Today, Leon shares his Chinese-learning journey and everyday life in Iceland on social media, where he has gained more than 70,000 followers, making him an influential young ambassador for Chinese culture in his home country.

“I’ll continue to carry this passion with me,” Leon says. “I hope to be a bridge of friendship and a messenger of culture.”

(Reporters: Zhong Leilei and Zhou Yuhan)