The players called it madness, insanity, a circus. A clash of cultures as the sedate and sombre world of snooker jarred with the raucous chaos that is modern China.
But with the world's most populous nation hailing their new teen hero Ding Junhui it seems the strange bedfellows are nestling in for a long-term relationship. Already more than 50 million Chinese play snooker on a regular basis, but with the 18-year-old Ding quickly assuming cult status after winning the China Open last Sunday that figure is expected to double or triple in the coming years.
The top stars are household names here. Some taxi drivers could tell you how many times Stephen Hendry has hit the magic 147 (eight to date), and marvel at the staying power of the evergreen Steve Davis. That fame translates into frenzy as voracious autograph hunters work in packs. When the players arrived for the China Open last week they were swamped by adoring fans - stampedes that literally threaten life and limb.
Just ask Steve Davis. The 47-year-old former world number one smacked his head off a door-frame as he tried to sidestep a descending horde of zealous admirers just before his game with Ricky Walden. He suffered mild concussion and had to withdraw from the tournament.
All stressful stuff for the players but it was in the arena itself that they found the biggest cultural differences. The reverential silence they are afforded back home does not gel with the Chinese idea of a good day out. They tend to like noise - and plenty of it.
The standard snooker sounds - the gentle clicking of balls, the rustle as it slides down the pocket, the referee's dulcet tones - were all but lost on many occasions this week in the cacophonous, carnival atmosphere at the China Open.
