The Rolling Stones will make their first ever visit to China to perform in Shanghai on April 8.

The rock greats will play at Shanghai Grand Stage, which has more than 8,500 seats.

The Shanghai performance is produced by WPC Piecemeal Inc., Concert Productions International and The Next Adventure, promoted locally by Emma Entertainment and sponsored by Deutsche Bank.

Jonathan Krane, CEO of Emma Entertainment, says that the Shanghai concert is part of the Rolling Stones' "bigger bang" world tour. The tour opened in Boston in August 2005 and has already attracted more than 1.5 million fans in the United States.

The Rolling Stones are among the better known Western rock acts in China.

"It's better late than never", says Li Yi, a 30-year-old Shanghai local. "Many young Chinese love to listen to a lot of Rock and Roll music, which has been synonymous with a rebellious attitude."

Ticket prices of the Rolling Stone's Shanghai concert range from 300 yuan (US$37.5) to 3,000 yuan (US$375).

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2006)