Sorry, off the topic a little (but that’s what i do best!), re : Metallica. Friend was telling me they had a severely restricted set list in Shanghai, which is weird, cos anyone who knows Metallica would be aware that this a very non-political band (apart from Justice For All). These guys, although known as “Alcoholica” in the past are also famously anti-drug (ie. the song Master of Puppets).
Re: pulling a crowd in Chengdu: doubtful at those ticket prices, maybe if part of a festival. Apparently more than half the Shanghai crowd were foreigners, but at least the locals didnt leave early (as happened the first time the Stones came! Ha ha)