Expats admire cultural products in Guiyang, capital city of Guizhou. CHINA DAILY

Fortunately, for our less-than-coordinated team, the full-court game against a local side was just for fun, and we were rewarded for our efforts with the surreal experience of running, dribbling and shooting beneath a rock ceiling.

Exhausted, we came off the court to thunderous applause, the energy of the audience turning the moment into an unforgettable highlight.