Sir Paul McCartney has spoken about his desire to take the Beatles music to China.

The singer, who three years ago said he would boycott the country because of its human rights record, said he was intrigued by the nation.

"I've never played in China, I'm kind of interested to see what that's like. There's lots of places I've never played, but I think China would be the answer,” Sir Paul told Absolute Radio.

In 2005, the former Beatle and vegetarian said China's record of killing dogs and cats for their fur was “like something out of the dark ages”.

He said: "I wouldn't even dream of going over there to play, in the same way I wouldn't go to a country that supported apartheid.

“This is just disgusting. It's just against the very rule of humanity. I couldn't go there. If they want to consider themselves a civilised nation, they're going to have to stop this."

Sir Paul made his then views known after watching an undercover film with his ex-wife Heather Mills.

The Beatles star has spent much of 2008 playing gigs in cities he has never previously performed in.

(by Jason Gregory)