'OH Darling, it is simply too wonderful!' exclaimed one after another of the jet set revellers led by Duchess of York, brought by Hong Kong entrepreneur David Tang to admire the ancient courtyards of his new creation, the China Club Beijing.
In the palace where self-crowned emperor Yuan Shikai once dreamed of siring a dynasty, Hollywood princes Kevin Costner and Michael Caine inspected the silk cushions and mahogany beds adorning the dining rooms.
'When they give you the bill, this is where you lie down,' joked Caine.
'No, no, this where imperial concubines reclined,' explained Mr Tang, dressed Manchu-style in black silk and waving his trademark Cuban cigar.
'Ting or Ping Dynasty?' breathed a leggy blonde in great earnestness.
The club, which opened last night is a joint venture with the Beijing Tourist Authority which owns the site. Until recently, it was a run-down Sichuan restaurant which enjoyed its Communist heyday as spot where Deng Xiaoping reputedly enjoyed his hometown cooking. Mr Tang wanted to rent it 20 years ago, but only pulled off the deal early last year and restoration work began in earnest nine months ago.