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Grammy Award-winning rapper and fashion designer Kanye West, also known as "Ye," held the "Vultures Listening Experience World Tour Listening Party - Haikou Station" on Sunday, marking the first day of the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. The event took place at the Wuyuan River Sports Stadium in Haikou, Hainan province.
All 42,000 tickets sold out, with 96.5 percent purchased by attendees from outside the island. Major cities contributing to the sales included Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Beijing, and Chengdu.
West shared a childhood photo from Nanjing, Jiangsu province, on Instagram ahead of the event, captioning it "BACK." West lived in China for a year as a child when his mother taught at Nanjing University. He last performed in China in 2008, with concerts in Beijing and Shanghai. This listening party in Haikou offered a fresh lineup compared to his earlier shows.
Haikou faced challenges leading up to the event after Super Typhoon Yagi caused severe infrastructure damage, particularly to the stadium. However, swift recovery efforts by officials and volunteers ensured the city was ready for the concert.
One internet user joked about the unique connection between West and Hainan, envisioning fans in "coconut shoes" (a reference to Yeezy sneakers) enjoying the concert near coconut groves. Local businesses also capitalized on the event, with malls, hotels, and tourist spots launching promotions. Hotel bookings surged sixfold compared to the Dragon Boat Festival holiday in June.
A local resident, surnamed Xing, expressed excitement over the international music event taking place in Hainan, noting the influx of fashionable fans in Haikou's streets. He appreciated the opportunity to experience global music trends in his home city.
Source: China Daily
