It was great while it lasted, but Beijingers have met the end of their seven-year Olympic road this week with a collective sigh of relief.
And now that the biggest party ever to hit the capital is over, if anyone thought residents would be overcome by a bad case of post-Olympic blues, just ask them. The overwhelming majority have been looking forward to a healthy dose of normality.
'The Olympics were fun, but now I just want to return to my old life. I need a rest,' said retiree Zhang Yiwen, 65.
Although sports psychologists say feelings of depression and self-doubt are common among athletes returning home after the world's biggest sporting event, few residents of the host city appear to be suffering from an Olympic hangover.
'Finally I don't have to work at the weekends, and I can relax!' said a weary Li Hongguo, a local-government official in Dongcheng district, who spent the past three weekends pounding the streets looking for potential troublemakers.
Other locals were keen to get back to work, with managers determined to dispel the holiday atmosphere that has prevailed in many offices since the city government encouraged residents to work from home during the 17-day Games period.
Even university students - who know how to party with abandon - recognise it is time to return to the grindstone. 'Sure, I'll miss the atmosphere of the Olympics. But now that it's over, I need to concentrate on studying again,' said Wang Xin, 20.