Hong Kong movie icon Jackie Chan performed a singing concert along with many other pop stars in Bird's Nest stadium Friday, the first day of China's May Day holiday.

Comedian Zhao Benshan, Jackie Chan and Xiao Shenyang (L to R) perform at the first-ever concert in Bird's Nest, May 1, 2009. [Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]

"Descendants of the Dragon: Jackie Chan and Friends" started at 7 p.m. and became the first large-scale concert held in the stadium after last year's Olympic Games.

The stadium was closed at noon and nearly 1,000 security guards were deployed around the site.

"Crowds of people began to enter the stadium via X-ray doors around 6 p.m. and they look eager," said Liu Shunli, a police officer working at one of the entrance.

Ticket prices ranged between 100 yuan (14.6 U.S. dollars) to 1,680 yuan.

Chan had said that he would spare no effort to perform well and put on a spectacular concert.

The concert ended at 9:30 p.m., lasting two and a half hours.

Chan, a movie actor most famous for its martial arts comedies, has also dabbled in singing and sang with other stars at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics.

Following the concert, Song Zuying, a well known singer of folk Chinese songs, will perform another show on June 30 with a host of stars including Placido Domingo.

Jackie Chan sings at the first-ever concert in Bird's Nest, May 1, 2009. [Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]

On Aug. 8, the first anniversary of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, director Zhang Yimou will bring Opera Turandot to spectators in the stadium.

Tourism, entertainment shows, sports events and commercial activities will become the main functions of the stadium in the post-Olympic period, officers with the operator of the construction said.

The Bird's Nest has received 3.08 million visitors so far.