Robbie Williams will play his first concert in China later this year, joining the list of British music stars to have performed in the world's most populous country, state media have said.

Williams, probably best known for his hit "Angels," will take to the stage in China's economic hub of Shanghai on November 4, Xinhua news agency said Friday.

Tickets for his show at the 35,000-seat Shanghai Hongkou football stadium are due to go on sale on September 14, with prices ranging from 180 to 1,580 yuan (22 to 193 dollars).

After Shanghai, the heartthrob crooner is to head to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore as part of his Close Encounters World Tour.

Williams is not particularly well-known in China and one music critic quoted by Xinhua said he would likely be playing to some of the 100,000 foreigners that live in China's biggest city.

The Rolling Stones became the biggest Western rock act to hit China when they performed in Shanghai in April to a sold-out audience of mostly foreigners.

Elton John performed in Shanghai in 2004, and Deep Purple played in Beijing in 2003.