The "Bard of Avon" will be fondly remembered by China's literary circles and the general public through the year as a series of events to mark his 400th death anniversary begins.

William Shakespeare's plays and poems, and musicals and movies related to him will all feature in the British Council initiative, Shakespeare Lives, which was launched in Beijing on Thursday.

Born in the English town of Stratford-upon-Avon, he was one of the greatest storytellers of all time.