Shaun the Sheep makes a charity run with Chinese fans

A similar art trail, featuring 50 Shaun sculptures designed by British artists, has been on display in London since March 28, and another 70 sculptures will join a two-month exhibition in Bristol, where the sheep's creator, Aardman Animation, is based.

Ciaran Devane, CEO of the British Council, says the project acts as a showcase of art, creativity and social participation. It is particularly fitting in the Chinese Year of the Sheep, he says.

This will be a year to create a lasting legacy in the culture and arts for Britain and China, and will promote mutual understanding and respect between the two countries, Devane says.

With 130 seven-minute episodes in four volumes, Shaun the Sheep has been aired in about 170 countries.

When Britain's Prince William took part in an event in March to dot the eyes for one of the 50 sculptures in Beijing, Shaun got the attention of about 1 billion viewers through Chinese media.

Wang Guoyu, senior general manager with Uyoung, a Chinese media company responsible for Shaun's brand development in China, attributes the popularity to the stop-motion picture series, without dialogue, which makes it easily accessible to audiences in many places.