(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-03-03 09:14

SHANGHAI, China - Soccer star David Beckham was swarmed by camera-carrying crowds as he arrived in China on Sunday for a game with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham, second right, greets Chinese officials during a press conference Sunday, March 2, 2008 in Shanghai, China. Beckham arrived in Shanghai to play a friendly match with a team consisted of Chinese and Hong Kong selected players on Wednesday as part of the Los Angeles Galaxy's three-match Asian tour. [Agencies]

"Beckham is our idol," said Xu Gen Bao, the coach of Shanghai-Hong Kong United, which will play the Galaxy on Wednesday in Shanghai.

Beckham, who said he got a "great welcome" from Chinese fans, said at a press conference he hoped to play the full 90 minutes in the exhibition game.

The English midfielder missed much of his first season with the Galaxy with injuries to his right knee and left ankle. He's now entering the second year of a five-year, $32.5 million contract with the team.

After the Galaxy's swing through Asia, its regular Major League Soccer season will start at the end of March.

The Asian tour started in Korea, where Beckham was the only one of five Galaxy players to convert in a penalty shootout as the MLS outfit lost to South Korea's FC Seoul 2-1 in on Saturday.

Earlier this year, Beckham was denied his 100th national team appearance by England's new coach Fabio Capello, who thought the Galaxy midfielder would be unfit in his offseason.

After the game in Shanghai, the American team's preseason Asian tour will continue with a game against Hong Kong Union on March 9.