Few singers are popular enough to hold two solo concerts in the capital within 8 months of each other, but then Taiwan evergreen Cai Qin is no ordinary singer. Last week she performed her second solo concert of the year in Shanghai, and returns this Friday on Aug. 6th to Beijing's capital stadium.

The concert will feature songs from her latest album "Under the Silver Moonlight", a handpicked collection of 13 of the most famous Chinese folksongs. Among the hits are Wang Luobin's "In a Faraway Land" and the Jiangsu folk song "Jasmine". The new album is Cai Qin's 42nd recording since she started her career 25 years ago, and the album will be released immediately after her concert.

Few if any Chinese singers have more hits to their name than Cai Qin, and while many stars try everything possible to please their fans, Cai Qin seems to effortlessly hit the target each time she releases a new album. Most of her songs are understated and narrative in style, and unlike many pop stars, her music never feels dated. In last year's Hong Kong thriller, "Infernal Affairs", when the two heavy-hearted protagonists meet in a hi-fi shop, they use a song of Cai Qin's to test the quality of the sound system.

How does she keep choosing the right songs to sing? According to the singer herself: "If the lyrics of a song can move me, then I'm sure I can sing it well and attractively."

Some people think that because of her soft and mellow voice, Cai Qin is an introvert and unhappy woman. In fact, she is surprisingly humorous and witty. 25 years in the business means she is an expert at warming up an audience, which may be thanks to her years of working experience as a DJ. She's always in control, and she always disappoints journalists who hope to catch her off-guard, or let slip an ill-considered remark.

Fans say that Cai Qin's voice has a timeless quality, which makes you forget how old she is. Her wisdom and self-confidence has endowed her with shining beauty. Perhaps this is the reason that she has been able to stay at the top of the industry for 25 years, when less talented starlets appear and then fade into obscurity. As the old Chinese proverb goes, "a beautiful face will fade with age, but unique charm will last forever." It would be hard to find a more fitting description of Cai Qin.

Here's a clip of one of her classics.