The Booey Lehoo concert supporting US-China educational exchange is officially set! At a Beijing press conference yesterday, the concert date and lineup of artists was announced. On December 17th, Will.i.am and Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas, and John Legend will be headlining the concert, joined by Chinese pop stars Shunza, Coco Lee and Sa Dingding. Organized by the non-profit group Americans Promoting Study Abroad (APSA), the concert aims to raise awareness of the 100,000 Strong Initiative.

The name of the concert – “Booey Lehoo” – is a play on a Chinese phrase that means “Isn’t it joyful?” It comes from a famous quote by Confucius: “有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎？ You peng zi yuan fang lai, bu yi le hu?” which means “To have friends come from afar, isn’t it joyful?” Organizers are hoping this quirky title will catch on with the artists and audience alike!

Leading up to the concert will be an entire week of arts and culture events, all following the theme of US-China exchange. The diverse lineup of events include a basketball tournament, a Chicago jazz performance, and an authors panel (featuring Evan Osnos, China correspondent of The New Yorker). To kick it all off, Project Pengyou will be holding its Beijing Launch on December 10th, with Guest of Honor, Ambassador Gary Locke!

Stay tuned for more info regarding all these events. In the meantime, check out the Booey Lehoo website for more information about Arts Week, the concert, and how to get tickets!