German rock band Scorpions will make its China debut at the Changjiang International Music Festival on May 1 in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Rock veterans Scorpions will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2015 and perform in China for the first time.

The German band will play on May 1 at the Changjiang International Music Festival.

Scorpions' lead vocalist, Klaus Meine, says the band will perform a medley of songs they have not played for a long time and their big hits such as Big City Nights, The Zoo and Rock You Like a Hurricane.

They will also play songs from their new album, Return to Forever.

"We know we have many fans in China. I am sure our Chinese fans will know some of our songs by heart and hopefully they will sing along," says Meine, adding there will not be many special effects in the show.

"It will be more about music, about the communication between the band on the stage and the audience."

In 2008, Meine traveled to Beijing for the opening ceremony of a Sino-German medical research program.

"I was surprised there was such amazing interest in the band playing in China. We know there is a very strong music scene with many Chinese bands. We want to give the fans a taste of European music, of the Scorpions' music," the 66-year-old rocker says.

"This might be just the beginning but that is up to our Chinese fans. We hope there will be another opportunity to come back and perform in Beijing, Shanghai and in many other cities," he adds.