The first Costco in the Chinese mainland opened Tuesday and had to close within hours due to huge crowds. 

Eager shoppers caused traffic jams and packed parking lots at the new Costco store in Shanghai.  The overcrowding forced the retailer to message customers on its app, "Please avoid coming."

Video shows frantic scenes as thousands of shoppers jostled to get their hands on everything from fresh meat to big-screen TVs and giant teddy bears.

The massive warehouse outlet issued a notice to users of its official app in the early afternoon saying that it would no longer allow more customers through the doors, citing an "overcrowding" situation inside the store and traffic chaos in surrounding areas.

Costco's "savvy social media push" and heavily discounted prices drew the onslaught of shoppers, Quartz and the South China Morning Post reported, with items such as local liquor and luxury bags priced significantly lower than at local marketplaces.