Shane Filan comes to Beijing to promote his China tour concert. Zou Hong / China Daily

Chinese saxophonist and US jazz maestro tour China

A night at the Sydney Opera

Shane Filan's recent trip to China was different from previous visits.

It was the first solo trip to China for the Irish singer-songwriter, who was one of the lead singers in the Irish band Westlife.

"It's a lot quieter, as there are less people. It's just myself and my tour manager traveling," he says after arriving in Beijing to promote his debut solo album You and Me and launch his eponymous China tour in September.

Fans were lining up outside a Beijing shopping mall, despite a storm, as he arrived.

When Filan noticed that they were singing new songs from his debut album, he joined them and made the space a small live-house venue.

"It's very different on my own, as it's just me onstage and I decide what happens. It's not as structured. So I can just do what I like and have fun with the crowd," he says.

He will perform in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu, among other cities, playing not only his solo hits from the album but also old Westlife hits.

The solo comeback and transition were not that difficult for Filan.

"I have never wanted to give up singing and performing," he says.