Amid the opening of the third edition of Art Basel in Hong Kong, artnet threw a party Thursday night at the city’s Kee Club to celebrate the beta launch of artnet News China. For just over a year, artnet News has delivered art world news, criticism, and commentary around the clock, and with the art world converging this week at one of the major hubs of a booming art market, the site’s beta launch couldn’t come at a more timely moment. (See Penny Liu Appointed Editor in Chief of artnet News China.)

With Art Basel fairs serving as the occasion for countless glitzy parties, it was only right for artnet to help kick off fair week in style. Within the first half hour, the venue was already at capacity. A DJ supplied beats while attendees sipped cocktails and danced.

What: artnet News China launches and Art Gallery Night commences at Art Basel in Hong Kong.

Where: Kee Club, Hong Kong

When: March 12, 2015

Who: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden director Melissa Chiu, curator Sarina Tang, art advisor Yung Hee Kim, Christie’s China president Jinqing Caroline Cai, artist Cao Fei, Deputy Chairman of Bonham’s Asia Magnus Renfrew, Chambers Fine Art’s Chris Mao, artnet CEO Jacob Pabst, and artnet News China editor in chief Penny Liu.

Why: artnet News launches its global newswire in China, in partnership with the Hong Kong Art Gallery Association, an initiative which was founded in 2012.