In a sleepy village on the outskirts of Beijing, not far from Qincheng, a jail for high-ranking political prisoners, Hung Huang and her husband have built their dream home among the gnarled trunks of an old persimmon orchard.
With its high walls, spacious lawn and buildings inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, the compound is a haven of tranquillity for China’s most well-known media mogul, fashion guru and social commentator.
When I arrive at her house on a cold, clear Sunday morning she has only just returned from Paris where she was attending a dinner hosted by Jane Fonda and L’Oréal to celebrate 40 years of its “Because I’m worth it” slogan.