Beijing were odds-on favorites to defeat the visiting Shandong and reached the season semi-finals in the Chinese Volleyball Super League on Sunday.
The capital-based team had not lost in the second stage and seemed to be in fine form as they strove to do better than last season's runner-up finish.
Beijing started off strong in the first set, and when Wang Jingyi was unable to save the blocked attempt, the boys from the capital took the opener 25-20.
The players in action during the match /VCG Photo
However, Shandong bounced back in the second and sealed a 25-23 victory to level the score at 1 all.
In the third set, Wang Dongchen made a block which was part of his 10 points for the night. Beijing won the frame 25-17 and re-took the lead.
In the fourth set, Frenchman Kevin Tillie rejected on his way to a game-high 20. The man of the match Zhang Binglong made an effort by deflecting off Ji. Beijing won 25-14 and 3-1 overall to kept their unbeaten running in the second stage.
In second-stage action elsewhere, Shanghai swept Sichuan with 3-0, Zhejiang lost 3-2 to Bayi, while Jiangsu won 3-0 to Henan.