Linkin Park lovin' China almost has us lovin' Linkin Park

So Linkin Park is performing this Saturday, August 15, at Shanghai Stadium (if this news somehow caught you by surprise, you can still buy tickets either at the Shanghai culture site or on mypiao, which lets you choose your seat) and as little as we personally appreciate their music, we did want to point out the excellent job they've been doing warming up their Chinese fans.

Youku Buzz showed off the band's official page on Youku, which includes a recorded hello by lead singer Chester Bennington, as well as all their music videos and a couple behind-the-scenes clips of LPTV (Linkin Park TV, we're guessing).

Besides that, we've heard they're also collaborating with a team of directors to shoot a segment on the band's Shanghai fans - including young directors who'd love a chance to film them or musicians who've been inspired by their music. The last time we went to a Shanghai cover band night, the one group that got everybody in the club singing was Five-Point Star covering Linkin Park, so we know the fensi are out there. If you know any Chinese LP-lovin' directors or musicians, send them along to us at tips (at) shanghaiist (dot) com.

As Avril Lavigne proved, making a little headway beforehand with your Chinese fans helps guarantee a much warmer reception - something that most foreign big acts seem to have yet to learn. So we're glad Linkin Park is taking their China tour so seriously and as appreciation, we'll be breaking the habit of the snarking we'd usually give them. Until, in the end, we turn numb - from the inside... heck, we're already starting to feel a little faint.