Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham (right) shakes hands with Chinese coach Xu Genbao during a press conference in Shanghai yesterday. Beckham arrived in the city to play a friendly match with the Shanghai-Hong Kong Unitedteam with Xu as its coach on Wednesday. (Photo: Shanghai Daily)

Former England football captain David Beckham arrived in Shanghai with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday afternoon as part of the team's three-city Asian tour.

Chinese Web site Tom.com Monday reported that dozens of crazed Chinese fans greeted the soccer star at the airport, wearing No.23 jerseys and holding "We love you, Beckham" signs.

Beckham will take the field in a match against a combined Shanghai-Hong Kong team on Wednesday night. He will also take part in a range of commercial promotions during his stay in China.

Chinese fans welcome Former England football captain David Beckham at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai on Sunday, March 2, 2008.

The Asian tour began in South Korea, where the English midfielder was the only one of five Galaxy players to convert in a penalty shoot-out. The U.S. team lost to K-League's FC Seoul 2-1 in an exhibition game last Saturday.

Galaxy's next stop is Hong Kong, where the American team's preseason East Asian tour will continue with a friendly game against Hong Kong Union on March 9.

(CRI March 3, 2008)