Real Madrid's new star is proving a hit with Chinese fans during his visit to the country - and reflects a growing trend of idol worship.

David Beckham, widely praised as the best footballer that England had produced for a generation, was walking slowly off the pitch after being sent off in the encounter with Argentina in the 1998 World Cup.

Fans felt let down, the media reacted angrily. There is nothing more pitiful than a fallen idol.

But for one 13-year-old girl on the other side of the world, it was the start of an intense period of devotion to Beckham.

"I was on my knees tidying up something on the floor in front of the TV set when I saw the injustice of the referee's action," recalled Zhang Yan, now a high school graduate who will enter college in Beijing in September.

"I was instantly struck by the pain in his eyes, feeling an unshakable sympathy for him and knowing that from then on he would be my idol."

Zhang had long been a young football fan whose favourite team was Shanghai Shenhua FC. Though she had heard of Beckham from time to time, the incident made it possible for her to match what she heard with the real person. It made her determined to become a beimi, which is a shortened Chinese word meaning a fan of David Beckham. "Few of my classmates knew Beckham at that time and I just kept him as my idol in my heart," she said.

Her life became divided into two parts: one for studying and one for her idol. "I tried to gather every piece of news, book or magazine about him. Every Saturday, I would sit in front of the TV set, cheering him and Manchester United," Zhang said.

"I think I am quite rational as a fan of Beckham because I won't spend a lot of money buying anything related to him. But I always care about him." Few of her classmates knew Beckham at that time. Even now, the Beckham fans in her class are all girls.

"Many people say that young girls like me are attracted to him superficially because he is good-looking. I won't deny this but it is also his honsety that has enchanted me."

In her eyes, the foul at the 1998 World Cup highlights this. "He just did what he instinctively felt he had to. Maybe it is not the right way but it is a true reflection of what he thinks," she explained. She also appreciates Beckham as a responsible man juggling his roles as a football player, husband and father in the face of the huge media pressure around him. Even her mother who knows nothing about football now believes Beckham is as good an idol as possible for her daughter.

Her experience of being a loyal fan now spans five years and this has given her a deeper understanding and reasonable attitude towards role models. She thinks everyone should have an idol in terms of seeking personal pleasure and spiritual trust.

"Having an idol is like having a stronger spirit - it always makes me feel that I have something to work for," Zhang said.

"This is a sort of pleasure. To those people who disagree, all I can say is that you cannot derive any pleasure if you do not like the person."

On April 31, she sent a letter to Beckham, like an old friend who needs some advice from another. She enclosed an envelope with the letter, hoping to save him trouble when he received it.

"My family had some trouble recently and I naturally thought about writing to Beckham to tell him my feelings. It was hard for me to write the letter in English. But, with the help of dictionary, I made it," she said.

"I did not expect an answer because I knew it would be almost impossible for the letter to reach his hand. Just writing is enough."

Zhang Yan has decided not go to the Workers' Stadium to watch the match because of practical issues; her home is too far away. But she hopes Beckham will come to China more frequently in future.

"I want him to know that there are many people here who really love him. We hope he will be happy and no matter what happens, I will support him forever." she said.

Owing to modern technology, Zhang Yan has found many beimi friends on the Internet. "Even though most of us never meet each other, we feel like old friends when we communicate on the Internet," Zhang said.

Cheng Zhuo is one of the fans who use the website that is devoted to Beckham. The 18-year-old high school student in Beijing says he is "80-point Beckham fan".

"I got to know about him in 1997 and became a fan of his in 1998 during the World Cup," he said.

Compared with other fans, Cheng is rather quiet when he talks about his idol. He seldom talks about Beckham with his classmates except when there is someone saying bad words about Beckham.

"The handsome appearance, honest personality and excellent football skills are three factors that have made me a fan of his. I can learn many things from him such as being polite and generous to others like a gentleman and diligent with my job like a sportsman," he said.

Cheng spends 90 per cent of his spare time and energy collecting everything about Beckham from news to photos. "Although my parents do not understand why I like him so much, they treat it as my private business with a neutral attitude.

"The Beckham I liked most was the one in 1997 and 1998. Since then, Beckham has been losing some of his image in my eyes as his superstar status has grown worldwide.

"I do not want him to become too commercial but I know it has to be and I will support him forever anyway."

Wu Yixin, who goes by the name of Brooklyn007 on the website, is an enthusiastic fan of Beckham. Hearing the news that Beckham will play with Real Madrid in Beijing, Wu immediately bought two tickets, paying 1,280 yuan (US$156.1) for each.

"It is worth spending this much money on the ticket as I will be able to see my idol playing in front of me," she said.

The 17-year-old works as a volunteer administrator for the website's BBS (bulletin board service). However, what makes her famous among the beimis is her emotional bond with the superstar.

"I was enchanted by his golden hair and charming smile in 1998. It was like love at first sight," she said.

"From then on, I have been crazy about collecting everything about him without caring about the price," she said.

Wu even asked his father to buy a Beckham football jersey from England through friends and it is hung together with others in her room.

"The more I learn about him, the more I find he is perfect as a husband and father. I wrote three letters to him and though there was no response, I don't care and I will support him forever."

Wu is working hard to improve her English in the hope of being able to talk to him some day. And she has decided that if she could have the opportunity to meet him, she would tell him loudly that, "you are the best man in the world".

The icons of their times

1950s: The 1950s can be called "a red age of idols". Chinese people welcomed the establishment of the new republic and enjoyed a peaceful life after a long period of war. The whole nation expressed deep gratitude and veneration towards those great men who changed the fate of the whole country. Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and the generals who founded the new nation were eulogized at that time. Even today, many still have Mao's image in their cars and at home, believing he can bring peace and luck.

1960s: The 1960s may be recognized as "an age of labour heroes as idols".
After experiencing a large-scale movement of fast industrial and agricultural development, people worshipped ordinary labourers who were greatly devoted and had made tremendous sacrifices to their work.

"Ordinary heroes" like Lei Feng, a soldier, Wang Jinxi, a steel worker, and Shi Chuanxiang, a hygiene worker, became idols in people's hearts.

1970s: The onset of the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) was matched by an apparent loss of idol worship among people.

But in the late 1970s and the early 1980s two Japanese stars - Takakura Ken and Yamaguchi Momoe - appeared as new idols for Chinese, especially youngsters. They were regarded as perfect role models for many young Chinese people.

1980s: This was when idol worship really took off in China. The new policy of reform and opening-up brought fast change in Chinese politics, economy and culture. People welcomed the coming of spiritual liberation but often felt perplexed in the new environment.

Zhang Haidi "The Lei Feng of the 1980s" As a disabled woman, she won people's hearts through her strong willpower to overcome disease and gain knowledge, and her optimistic attitude towards life. Though a paraplegic since the age of five, she studied all courses in primary, middle school and university by herself. She also mastered three foreign languages and had a good knowledge of physics and literature.

Idols emerged quickly in all fields, and entertainment stars took over from traditional models. Singers like Cui Jian, Deng Lijun and Luo Dayou brought refreshing musical styles and content, changing the "red" trends of popular music in China. Movie stars like Chow Yun Fat and Liu Xiaoqing seized the hearts of millions with their portrayals on screen.

1990s: This was an age of idol worshippers rather than idols themselves.
The explosion of information provided people with much more choice of idols.

Increased cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world saw the idols of Chinese people take on a more global appearance. Millions in China adored Princess Diana and the Backstreet Boys.

Idol worship now reflects modern life and people's material aspirations.

Posters of celebrities are available in many shops, faces appear on advertisements. Teenagers are now seen in shopping centres buying clothes that are similar to their idols with many forking out huge sums to catch a glimpse of them on stage or at concerts.

Hong Kong singers Andy Lau (Liu Dehua), Leon Lai (Li Ming), Jacky Cheung (Zhang Xueyou) and Aaron Kwok (Guo Fucheng) become the heartthrobs of the nation at that time.

Taiwan singer Jay Chou is the latest heartthrob for many of the young generation.

People have dubbed these men as the "four giants" in popular music. They have dominated music trends for more than a decade in China.

The new millennium: Perhaps the most obvious change in idol worship this century has been the adoption of Chinese as idols by people of other nations.

Chinese sports stars are leading the way with towering basketball player Yao Ming a hero to many young Americans for his amazing debut performances in the NBA with the Houston Rockets.

In entertainment, too, Chinese idols are popular worldwide. The films "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Hero" have turned Chinese actors such as Michelle Yeoh and Jet Li into heroes for youngsters in many countries.

In China, idols follow the trend of other nations with good looks and youthful vigour dominating. Zhao Wei, F4 and Lu Yi are common faces staring down from teenagers' bedroom walls.

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