Kylie wows fans at first Beijing concert

By Ben Blanchard

BEIJING (Reuters) - Australian pop star Kylie Minogue wowed fans on Monday at her first performance in Chinese capital Beijing with an electric show.

A beaming Minogue, who overcame breast cancer two years ago, belted out a series of her biggest hits, including "Can't get you out of my head," "Better the devil you know" and "I should be so lucky."

"It's my first time ever here in Beijing and you've made me feel so welcome," she told the crowd of some 6,000 who had gathered to see her at the Beijing Workers' Gymnasium.

"I'm very happy today," Minogue said in broken Chinese, to roars of approval from the crowd. "Well, it's true!"

Her Beijing date was part of the KylieX2008 tour, a $16 million production that has already been to more than 21 countries, and included a Shanghai date last weekend.

Nicknamed by local media the "pea princess" in reference to her diminutive size, "Kaili Minuo" as she is known in Chinese barely rested during the two-hour show, dressed to the nines in a dazzling and constantly changing Jean Paul Gaultier wardrobe.

While not as well known in China as Madonna or Celine Dion, Minogue packed in the crowds with the most expensive ticket going for 2,580 yuan ($376.5), well out of the price range of the average Chinese.

The Australian became a household name in Britain in the 1980s after starring as Charlene in the TV soap "Neighbours."