Britain's Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, is scheduled to visit Beijing, Shanghai and Yunnan province starting on March 1, the incoming British ambassador to China, Barbara Janet Woodward, announced on Wednesday in London.

It will be the first visit to the Chinese mainland by a member of the British royal family in almost three decades.

One of the highlights of William's visit will be the Great Festival of Creativity in Shanghai, where he will highlight Britain's contributions to commercial creativity, Woodward said at a Chinese New Year reception, according to sources at the event.