Madame Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese premier Xi Jinping, was met by Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, at Fortismere School in Muswell Hill.
Madame Peng and Mr Gibb heard pupils performing Chinese poems and songs in Mandarin. The pupils also asked Madame Peng, who is an ambassador for children's education, questions in Mandarin.
Nick is currently spearheading a government initiative announced by the Chancellor during his visit to Shanghai that will aim to improve the teaching of Mandarin in English schools. The government hopes to have 5000 pupils fluent in the language by 2020.