Bayern Munich land in Beijing to begin China tour

Chinese soccer fans are waiting for the Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich at the arrival hall of the Beijing Capital international airport, July 17, 2015. [Photo/IC]

BEIJING-- Bayern Munich touched down in Beijing on Thursday to kick off their pre-season tour which sounds like a gospel for their Chinese fans.

When the Bundesliga champions, led by captain Philipp Lahm, appeared around noon at the arrival hall of the Beijing Capital international airport, exhilarating screams echoed in the hall where over 1,000 fans gathered to welcome the German soccer club team.

"We are organized by a Bayern fan group and came to the airport by bus. Being able to see the team I worship is like a dream come true," said a girl who asked to be anonymous.

She said she began to like the German club even before she knew that it did exist.

"Five years ago when I played a video soccer game, I found the Bayern Munich logo very beautiful and attractive, and of course the team there was very strong. So I became the team's fan," she said.

"After some days, I heard that there really existed a club with the identical name. I was aware that it was not a club made up for the computer game. I was so happy to know that, from then on nobody could stop me loving this club," she said.

The girl, who hails from Beijing, arrived at the airport with her friends at 10 a.m, in order to get a better viewpoint.

After over two hours' wait, they finally saw the Bayern players who made a quick exit through a special passage lined by hand-in-hand policemen.

Dutch winger Arjen Robben, who is nursing muscular problems, is absent with injured Franck Ribery, Holger Badstuber, Dante and Jan Kirchhoff from the the week-long trip.

Bayern's trip includes matches against Valencia on Saturday in Beijing, Inter Milan on July 21 in Shanghai and Guangzhou Evergrande on July 23 in Guangzhou.