Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms had to settle for silver after being beaten in a tense badminton mixed doubles final.
The Britons lost a see-saw battle 15-1 12-15 15-12 to defending champions and second seeds Ling Gao and Jun Zhang.
The Chinese took the first game in just 12 minutes but urged on by the vocal British fans in the Goudi Olympic Hall, Robertson and Emms battled back.
They won the second game and led 7-3 in the third but the Chinese fought back to repel the Britons' brave challenge.
The Chinese pair overwhelmed the fourth seeds in the first game with Zhang's left-handed smashes punishing the Britons.
But Robertson and Emms stepped up a level in a tense second set.
The Chinese - and Zhang in particular - were getting rattled and there was controversy when he served at 6-10.
The line-judge at first called the serve out and then changed his mind, prompting a protest from the Britons.
But the Britons recovered to take the game 15-12 and although they went 3-0 down in the third, they won seven points in a row to take command.
From then on it was a see-saw battle of nerves before the Chinese pair finally prevailed 15-12 in a nail-biting finale.
The British pair, who had been seeded fourth, were proud yet disappointed after the rollercoaster match.
"It was such a close final and we were leading in the third game," Robertson told BBC Sport.
"I just think they were a bit more positive right at the end. That was the difference."
"They came out incredibly fast and blew us off the court," added the 27-year-old.
"We did brilliantly to stick in there and fight in the second game. I really think we should have won that but we've got to look back with pride at what we've achieved."
Emms said: "I think we exceeded what we expected to do out here but you go out there and you want to win and there is a gutting feeling when you lose."
Meanwhile Denmark's Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager beat Rikke Olsen and Jonas Rasmussen for the bronze.