Hot on the heels of Beijing’s inaugural ‘Commercial Conformist Orgy’ (what, you didn’t get an invite?) comes the city’s first-ever edition of The Underground Rebel Bingo Club. Traditionally just an opportunity for Nana to blow her pension (and, let’s be honest, your inheritance), the game of ‘bingo’ has been reshaped by counter-culture hipsters into a night of debauchery, loud music and magic markers. Is nothing sacred?

Founded in 2008 by James Flames and Freddie Fortune (not their real names), The Underground Rebel Bingo Club began life when the duo stumbled upon a disused bingo machine in a church hall. Not knowing exactly how the game was played, they developed their own bizarre rubric for the ‘sport of pensioners’. Flashing lights, thunderously loud music and chaotic face-drawing probably don’t feature in your average bingo game. Having spread from London to New York, the ballspinning bacchanalia finally makes its way to Beijing.

So what can we look forward to? ‘People can expect a life changing, emotional experience that is everything that opera promises to be,’ James Flames informs us over the phone from London. ‘There is hope, love, fear, excitement, high drama and high stakes.’ In a less esoteric fashion, Flames explains that this entails ‘DJs, alcohol, a party and a spectacular stage show that will blow your mind’.

Prizes for the winners are often unwieldy trinkets that fit perfectly with the spirit of the event. However, these are just mementos of the experience itself, which is the real prize. So, does Flames have any suggestions for locals wanting to start their own Underground Rebel Mahjong Club? ‘I would say, forget any rules you’ve ever been told about mahjong, flip the board upside down, stamp on it, set it on fire and play some loud music.’ We didn’t have the heart to tell him that there isn’t a board in mahjong – we were too busy flamethowering a Jenga tower! Let the games commence!