EVERYBODY loves a good rags-to-riches story, and China is teeming with them. This would be good news anywhere but is especially so in a country that has seen more than its share of destitution and chaos over the past half century. The people on this list, Rupert Hoogewerf's second-annual ranking of the mainland's 50 richest people, are the smartest and luckiest among a nation of survivors hell-bent on exploring a billion variations on capitalism with Chinese characteristics. New faces abound this year - 30 out of 50, to be exact - as the New Economy emerges from the Old, making the latest list, which includes 14 New Economy companies, an eclectic mixture. And the mainland's rich are getting richer. The aggregate wealth of the top 50 adds up to about US$10 billion (about HK$78 billion), equivalent to nearly one per cent of the country's gross domestic product. Last year, the lowest-ranking member of the list had 'only' US$6 million in assets. This year, number 50 - motorcycle-maker Yin Mingshan - has assets worth US$42 million. Even so, there is continuity at the top. Rong Yiren, the founder of China International Trade and Investment Corp, is number one again this year. His family's wealth weighs in at a hefty US$1.9 billion, or nearly one-fifth of the list's total. At 84, Mr Rong is the oldest person on the list and a man whose life epitomises modern Chinese history. His family's business empire was confiscated in 1956, and he was subjected to often violent denunciations by Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution. But he survived and, in 1978, was handpicked by Deng Xiaoping to rebuild the country's industrial base. The Cultural Revolution's disruptive impact is evident throughout the top-50 list. Seventeen of its members - most of whom were teenagers at the time - were forced to leave school during the chaos that reigned from 1966 to 1976. Some of them have returned to their studies, at least on a part-time basis, but even so, 21 of the mainland's 50 richest people have not attended university. One of those who left school at 15 is 11th-ranked Li Xiaohua, now estimated to be worth US$250 million. He demonstrates the creative spirit and entrepreneurial zeal that, barring further political and social upheaval, could transform China. Starting with little more than a fresh-juice machine, which he used to slake thirsts along the beaches of Beidaihe, Mr Li has built a real-estate empire, had a star named after him and become the first mainlander to own a Ferrari. The top-50 list - compiled by Mr Hoogewerf, a chartered accountant and Chinese degree holder - is bursting with similar tales. Take 39th-ranked Chen Rong. Raised in a poor peasant family, he used a decade's worth of savings - US$250 - to start a small clothing workshop. Then, by adopting savvy trading strategies when the Shanghai Stock Exchange opened in the early 1990s, he managed to parlay his initially meagre assets into sole ownership of the mainland's largest bowling-equipment manufacturer. His wealth is now estimated at US$60 million, allowing him to dabble in a film-production company with director Xie Jin. There are three women on the list, all of whom are in business with their husbands. Twenty-second-ranked Fang Xiaowen farms pigeons and exotic birds with her husband, Lin Zhuohui, a business they have turned into a US$120 million money-spinner. Next on the list - also with assets of US$120 million - is Zhang Can and her husband, Yan Junjie, the mainland's largest distributors of Compac-brand computers. Ranked 38th is talk-show host Yang Lan, who has teamed up with her husband, Wu Zheng, to build a television-content provider. They have personal assets worth US$64 million. So far, China's most successful business leaders have built their companies on domestic demand. This has been particularly important in the past few years, as the mainland has had to keep its economy afloat amid a sea of Asian countries weighed down by the impact of the regional financial crisis. But next year's challenges are likely to be different if China enters the World Trade Organisation as expected. The mainland's capitalists can expect heightened competition and opportunities to display their entrepreneurial grit. 1. RONG YIREN and family Age: 84 Birthplace: Wuxi, Jiangsu Education: Shanghai St John's University, Shanghai's top university before 1949 Main company: China International Trade and Investment Corp (Citic) Main industry: Investment company Wealth: US$1.9 billion, based on the 18 per cent of Hong Kong-listed Citic Pacific owned by Mr Rong's son Larry Yung Chi-kin as of August 31 History: Prior to 1949, the Rong family was already the wealthiest in Shanghai, having made its fortune in the textile and flour industries. Mr Rong decided to stay on the mainland after the revolution and, in 1956, handed over his business empire to the Government. His fortunes changed in 1978, when the mainland's paramount leader, Deng Xiaoping, asked him to develop the country's industry. That same year, Mr Rong set up Citic, which has since become the mainland's largest window company for foreign financing. Mr Rong is first on the list because wealth amassed by his son is a reflection of his influence. Mr Rong was vice-president of China from 1993 to 1998. 2. LIU YONGXING and brothers Age: 52 Birthplace: Xinjin, Sichuan Education: University Main company: Hope Group Main industry: Animal feed Wealth: US$1 billion, based on the group's 1999 value History: Hope Group, one of the mainland's largest private companies, was founded in 1982 by four brothers - Liu Yonghao, Liu Yongxing, Liu Yongmei and Liu Yongyan - to breed quails for their eggs. Having watched Thailand's giant Charoen Pokphand Group expand by selling pig feed in Sichuan province, the brothers formulated their own brand of animal feed. Today, the Hope Group (split along geographical lines into two companies, one run by Mr Liu Yongxing and the other by Mr Liu Yonghao) has combined annual revenues of more than US$1 billion. It has grown by taking over state-owned enterprises, possibly as many as 30 this year alone. Mr Liu Yonghao is a delegate to the National People's Congress (NPC). 3. REN ZHENGFEI Age: 56 Birthplace: Not known Education: University Main company: Huawei Technologies Main industry: Telecoms equipment Wealth: US$500 million, based on his estimated five per cent holding in Shenzhen Huawei, valued at an estimated US$10 billion History: A former officer in the People's Liberation Army, Mr Ren started Shenzhen Huawei in 1988 and has overseen its strong growth. The group now has annual revenue of US$1.5 billion and has become one of the mainland's market leaders for global-system-for-mobile-communications (GSM) equipment, switching products and access networks. Mr Ren declined to provide details of his holdings. 4. ZHANG XINGMIN Age: 42 Birthplace: Jiutai, Jiling Education: College of Further Studies Main company: Hainan Xingbao Group Main industry: Trade and real estate Wealth: US$480 million History: After turning around several loss-making state-owned companies in northeast China, Mr Zhang decided to head south to try his luck. In 1991, he pulled off a major deal, selling low-grade sugar to Russia and, in the process, earning US$24 million and the right to trade internationally. Mr Zhang then bartered mainland-made colour TVs for steel and cement. In 1993, he moved into real estate, developing an island off Hainan Island and, later, a two-million-square-metre commercial site in Zhejiang province. 5. WU YIJIAN Age: 40 Birthplace: Xian, Shaanxi Education: Bachelor's from Xian Ligong University, master's from Huazhong Normal University Main company: Shaanxi Jinhua Qiye Group Main industry: Pharmaceuticals Wealth: US$422 million, based on his 2000 assets History: Mr Wu's grandfather, a landlord, was killed and his father imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution. Mr Wu started out in real estate in Xian, later diversifying into pharmaceuticals, retail and investment industries. He has won local and national awards for entrepreneurial excellence and has listed a subsidiary of the group on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Mr Wu is a delegate to the NPC. 6. LU GUANQIU Age: 55 Birthplace: Xiaoshan, Zhejiang Education: Left school at 15 Main company: Zhejiang Wanxiang Group Main industry: Automotive parts Wealth: US$360 million, based on his 100 per cent ownership of the group's 1999 net assets History: Mr Lu's break came in 1980, when he decided to change the local village enterprise from making parts for agricultural equipment to making parts for cars. For six months, sales dropped, but he persevered. In 1988, Mr Lu bought the municipal government's 50 per cent share in the company in return for operating and shareholder independence. He listed his core business on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 1994. It became the first mainland enterprise to supply a major US car manufacturer (General Motors) in 1995. Prescott Bush, uncle of US presidential candidate George W. Bush, sits on Mr Lu's board of advisers. 7. ZHANG HONGWEI Age: 46 Birthplace: Harbin, Heilongjiang Education: Master's interrupted by Cultural Revolution Main company: Heilongjiang Dongfang Group (Orient Group) Main industry: Construction and trade Wealth: US$350 million, based on the group's 1999 net assets History: In 1983, Mr Zhang and several peasants formed a construction company offering customers speedy completion and high quality. In 1988, Mr Zhang's small construction company was registered as the first private group in Heilongjiang province. In 1993, the renamed Orient Group became the first private company to gain a stock-market listing. He has invested in Minsheng Bank, the mainland's first private bank, and other industries, such as manufacturing and transportation. Mr Zhang is a delegate to the NPC. 8. XU WENRONG Age: 65 Birthplace: Hengdian, Zhejiang Education: Left school at 13 Main company: Zhejiang Hengdian Qiye Group Main industry: Magnetic materials Wealth: US$325 million, based on his 100 per cent ownership of the group's 1999 net assets. History: Mr Xu's first break came when he persuaded locals to lend him US$6,000 to set up a village enterprise in the silk industry, with the promise he would double their money within three years. After repaying his initial backers, he set up his company producing magnetic materials in 1990 and has since diversified to manufacturing chemicals. In 1996, he formed the Bamianshan film studio, which produced the film Opium Wars, released ahead of the handover. 9. ZHANG SIMIN Age: 37 Birthplace: Changchun, Jiling Education: Harbin Industrial University Main company: Haiwang Shengwu Gongchan Group Main industry: Pharmaceuticals Wealth: US$313 million, based on the group's 1999 net assets History: Mr Zhang left China International Trade and Investment Corp (Citic) in Beijing to set up his own pharmaceutical company in Shenzhen in 1989. 10. SONG CHAODI Age: 39 Birthplace: Harbin, Heilongjiang Education: Bachelor's from China Science and Technology University in Hefei, master's from Qinghua University Main company: Kelihua (Clever Software Group) Main industry: Computer software Wealth: US$270 million, based on the market value of the group's 28 per cent stake in Shanghai-listed Kelihua but taking no account of other assets in the group, which is owned by Mr Song History: Mr Song started Kelihua with less than US$100 in 1991. Now the company is the market leader, with its CSC-brand educational software, and was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in May of last year. It has diversified into a business-to-business Web site for land-based cargo transport, an online Chinese bookstore and a distance-learning Web site. 11. LI XIAOHUA Age: 49 Birthplace: Beijing Education: Left school at 15 Main company: Hong Kong Huada Investment Group Main industry: Real estate Wealth: US$250 million, based on the group's 1996 assets History: Mr Li started out in 1981 on the beaches of Beidaihe with an US$800 fresh-juice machine. Four years later, he won a licence to be the sole distributor in Japan of Zhao Zhangguang's 101 Hair Restorer. In 1991, Mr Li invested US$38 million into real estate in Malaysia, doubling his money within six months when an oil field was found under the land. He is known for being the first mainlander to own a Ferrari sports car and even has a star named after him. Mr Li is a delegate to the NPC. 12. CHEN JINFEI Age: 38 Birthplace: Beijing Education: University Main company: Beijing Tongchan Investment Group Main industry: Investment Wealth: US$226 million, based on the group's 1998 net assets History: After resigning from the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications in 1987, Mr Chen formed a T-shirt-printing company. His first break came in 1992, when he invested shrewdly in Hainan Island's booming real-estate market. During the early 1990s, private enterprises were not allowed to develop real estate in Beijing, so Mr Chen became a partner with municipal governments anxious to build and willing to trade land in return for a stake in property developments. Tongchan has since erected a million square metres of commercial and residential property in Beijing. He has diversified into building materials, telecommunications and finance, including setting up a bank on Wall Street, America TCC International Investment Group Corp. The group had sales of US$180 million in 1998. Mr Chen is a delegate to the NPC. 13. WU BINGXIN Age: 63 Birthplace: Shandong Education: Left school at 15 Main company: Shandong Sanzhu Yaoye Group Main industry: Pharmaceuticals Wealth: US$210 million, based on his 100 per cent ownership of the group's 1999 net assets History: Liver cancer forced Mr Wu, an accountant, into early retirement at 50. He says he used Chinese medicine to cure himself, prompting him to establish a vitamin-drink factory. 14. EDWARD TIAN SHUONING Age: 37 Birthplace: Beijing Education: Master's from Chinese Academy of Sciences Graduate School in Beijing, doctorate from Texas Technical University Main company: China Netcom Main industry: Telecoms infrastructure Wealth: US$198 million, based on his 16 per cent holding in Nasdaq-listed AsiaInfo History: In 1993, Mr Tian and James Ding Jian (number 16 on this list) co-founded AsiaInfo, a computer-software and systems-integration company. When the Government asked Mr Tian to build a broadband Internet-protocol network, he became the first senior executive to transfer from a private company to a state-owned one. Mr Tian has overseen the building of a 9,600-kilometre, 20-gigabyte, fiber-optic backbone, one of the first on such a scale. The network covers 15 mainland cities and is one of the world's fastest. Today, China Netcom creates and maintains intranets and Internet applications for businesses, and provides IP phone cards for consumers. China Netcom is in the process of building several regional broadband networks. 15. TAO XINKANG Age: 48 Birthplace: Nanhui district, southeastern Shanghai Education: Left school at 18 Main company: Shanghai Xingaochao Group Main industry: Wooden boards Wealth: US$190 million, based on the group's 1999 net assets History: Starting out with US$1,000 in the late 1970s, Mr Tao set up a furniture workshop. By 1985, he had amassed US$60,000 and taken a 10 per cent share of the Shanghai furniture market. Unlike his state-owned competitors, Mr Tao offered customers free design and delivery, and efficient after-sales services. Expansion accelerated with the development of Shanghai's Pudong district. In 1999, the group had US$500 million in sales and US$31 million in net profits. 16. JAMES DING JIAN Age: 35 Birthplace: Beijing Education: Master's in information science from the University of California at Los Angeles Main company: AsiaInfo Holdings Main industry: Internet infrastructure Wealth: US$186 million, based on his 15 per cent holding in Nasdaq-listed AsiaInfo as of August 31 History: In May 1999, Mr Ding took over as chief executive of AsiaInfo, a company he founded with Edward Tian Shuoning (number 14 on this list), who left the company to start China Netcom. They met in 1991, when Mr Ding was the first person to subscribe to a Web site Mr Ting had set up on mainland environmental issues. 17. RONG HAI Age: 43 Birthplace: Xian, Shaanxi Education: Bachelor's from Xian Jiaotong University, master's from Fudan University Main company: Xian Haixing Technology Group Main industry: Computers Wealth: US$170 million, based on the group's 30 per cent holding, as of August 31, in Shanghai-listed Xian Haixing Technology History: A lecturer at Xian Jiaotong University, Mr Rong set up a technology-research company in his garage, with an initial loan of US$4,000. In 1990, he split with his partners. That year Mr Rong succeeded in winning a contract to distribute Compaq computers in northwest China. His first-year profit of US$1 million on sales of US$13 million gave him the capital to start his own Haixing brand. Today, Xian Haixing Technology Group is involved in real estate, beverages and supermarkets, with group sales of US$580 million and profits of US$50 million in 1999. Mr Rong is a delegate to the NPC. 18. LU ZHIQIANG Age: 49 Birthplace: Shandong Education: Master's Main company: Shandong Fanhai Group Main industry: Real-estate management and construction materials Wealth: US$146 million, based on the group's 1998 net assets History: Mr Lu listed his subsidiary, Guangcai Construction, on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 1994. The company's market capitalisation had risen to US$330 million by August 31. 19. WU YING Age: 40 Birthplace: Beijing Education: New Jersey Institute of Technology, after first studying wireless electronics at Beijing Industrial University Main company: UT Starcom Main industry: Telecoms Wealth: US$137 million, based on his shareholding of UT Starcom as of August 31 History: After graduating from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1987, Mr Wu worked with AT & T Bell Laboratories and Bellcore Laboratories until he founded Starcom Network Systems in 1991. UT Starcom provides communications equipment for service providers operating wireless and wire-line networks. 20. WILLIAM DING LEI Age: 29 Birthplace: Ningbo, Zhejiang Education: Chengdu University of Electronic Science and Technology Main company: Netease.com Main industry: Internet portal Wealth: US$134 million, based on his 58.5 per cent holding in the Nasdaq-listed company, valued at US$230 million as of August 31 History: After graduating in 1993, Mr Ding worked on the mainland briefly for Sybase, a US-based computer-software firm, and then for China Telecom. He founded Netease with US$60,000 in June 1997. Today, the portal is among the mainland's three most popular Web sites. Netease developed the mainland's first free Web-based electronic-mail server. After this success, Mr Ding expanded the portal to provide various Internet services, including personalised homepages, virtual communities, chat rooms, games and entertainment channels. In July of this year, Mr Ding resigned as chief executive officer to devote himself to technical development. 21. LIU HANYUAN Age: 36 Birthplace: Meishan, Sichuan Education: Part-time course at Sichuan University, after attending Sichuan Provincial Aquatic Products School Main company: Sichuan Tongwei Group Main industry: Fish feed Wealth: US$126 million, based on the group's 1999 net assets History: Coming from the same province as animal-feed-maker Hope Group, (number two on this list), Mr Liu started out in the fishing industry in 1984. He launched his company with US$100, which his parents raised by selling pigs. The company is now the largest fish-feed producer on the mainland, with sales of US$385 million in 1999. This year, he established a fish-feed centre in Shenzhen. Mr Liu is a delegate to the NPC. 22. LIN ZHUOHUI and FANG XIAOWEN (husband and wife) Age: 53 and 44, respectively Birthplace: Guangzhou Education: High school Main company: Guangzhou Yingjili (Enlucky) Main industry: Agriculture Wealth: US$120 million, based on the company's 1999 assets History: The couple borrowed US$500 to farm pigeons. They added peacocks in 1988, and ostriches and emus more recently. 23. YAN JUNJIE and ZHANG CAN (husband and wife) Age: 35 and 33, respectively Birthplace: Beijing Education: Beijing University Main company: Dayin Group (Dyne Group) Main industry: Distribution Wealth: US$120 million, based on the group's net assets History: In 1986, the couple were buying computer parts on behalf of a state-owned company. They set up their own business six years later. They won a contract to distribute Compaq computers and, by 1994, had become Compaq's largest distributor in Asia. They have now diversified into real estate and cosmetics. Sales totalled US$240 million in 1999. 24. ZHANG GUOXI Age: 48 Birthplace: Yujiang, Jiangxi Education: Left school at 18 Main company: Jiangxi Guoxi Industrial Group Main industry: Wood carvings Wealth: US$120 million, based on the group's 1999 net assets History: Mr Zhang learned his trade in the wood-carving business, setting up the first private enterprise in Jiangxi province in 1979. Since then, he has diversified into real estate and automobile-part manufacture. He is reported to have donated US$2 million of his private wealth to charity and has a planet named after him. Mr Zhang is a delegate to the NPC. 25. GUO GUANGCHANG Age: 33 Birthplace: Dongyang, Zhejiang Education: Fudan University Main company: Fuxing Gaokeji Group (Fortune Group) Main industry: Biotechnology products and Chinese medicine Wealth: US$116 million, based on his estimated 25 per cent holding in the group, valued at the US$465 million market capitalisation of its Shanghai-listed subsidiary History: Born into a peasant family, Mr Guo studied hard to earn a place at prestigious Fudan University, where he studied biology. In 1992, he and four of his friends surveyed many Shanghai hospitals, researching what products the hospitals needed and eventually deciding to specialise in a test for hepatitis. Mr Guo started what is now the group with seed capital of US$4,500, raised primarily from his lecturers at Fudan. The group was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in August 1999. 26. WU ZHIJIAN Age: 40 Birthplace: Changde, Hunan Education: Left school at 15 Main company: Shenzhen Zhenghua Group Main industry: Trade Wealth: US$115 million, based on the group's assets History: In 1985, Mr Wu moved to Shenzhen, where he took over the lease on a bankrupt department store. Early successes led the municipal government to ask him to run a printing company, which he sold three months later for US$360,000. He has diversified into real estate and other activities. 27. ZHANG JIAN and ZHANG YUE (brothers) Age: 36 and 38, respectively Birthplace: Hunan Education: Harbin Industrial University Main company: Yuanda Air Conditioner (Broad Air Conditioning) Main industry: Air conditioners Wealth: US$115 million, based on the brothers' ownership of the group's 1999 net assets 28. LUO ZHONGFU Age: 49 Birthplace: Zunyi, Guizhou Education: Left school at 15 Main company: Zhuhai Fuhai Group Main industry: Real estate Wealth: US$100 million, based on the group's 1998 net assets, discounted by one-third to reflect the subsequent substantial drop in property prices 29. SUN GUANGXIN Age: 38 Birthplace: Xinjiang Education: Anhui Military College Main company: Xinjiang Guanghui Industrial Group Main industry: Building materials and real estate Wealth: US$98 million, based on the group's 1999 net assets 30. Xia Chaojia Age: 51 Birthplace: Chengdu, Sichuan Education: University Main company: Hejia Group Main industry: Agribusiness Wealth: US$96 million, based on the group's ownership of its Shanghai-listed subsidiary 31. GAO FENG Age: 60 Birthplace: Inner Mongolia Education: University Main company: Inner Mongolia Luwang Yangrong Group, King Deer Cashmere Group Main industry: Textiles Wealth: US$94 million, based on his 49 per cent ownership of the group's 1999 assets 32. LI SHUFU Age: 37 Birthplace: Taizhou, Zhejiang Education: Hubei Economic Management University Main company: Zhejiang Jili Group (Geely Group) Main industry: Motorcycles Wealth: US$94 million, based on the group's 1999 net assets 33. HE BOQUAN Age: 40 Birthplace: Guangdong Education: Left school at 15, part-time course work at university Main company: Guangdong Lebaishe Group (Robust Group) Main industry: Soft drinks Wealth: US$85 million, based on his ownership of the group's net assets 34. LOU ZHONGFU Age: 46 Birthplace: Dongyang, Zhejiang Education: Left school at 15, part-time course work at university Main company: China Guangsha Jianshe Group Main industry: Construction and real estate Wealth: US$83 million, based on the group's 1999 net assets 35. CHEN JINYI Age: 39 Birthplace: Tonglu, Zhejiang Education: Left school at 18 Main company: Zhejiang Jinyi Group Main industry: Food and beverage Wealth: US$80 million, based on the group's 1999 net assets 36. NAN CUNHUI Age: 37 Birthplace: Wenzhou, Zhejiang Education: Left school at 15, master's Main company: Zhejiang Wenzhou Zhengtai Group (Chint Group) Main industry: Electrical equipment Wealth: US$72 million, based on his estimated 75 per cent ownership of the group's 1999 net assets 37. CHARLES ZHANG CHAO YANG Age: 37 Birthplace: Xian, Shaanxi Education: Qinghua University in Beijing, doctorate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology Main company: Sohu.com Main industry: Internet portal Wealth: US$67 million, based on his 28 per cent ownership of the company, valued as of August 31 38. YANG LAN AND WU ZHENG (wife and husband) Age: 31 and unknown Birthplace: Beijing Education: Bachelor's from Beijing Foreign Languages University, master's from Columbia University Main company: Sun Television Cybernetworks Main industry: Media Wealth: US$64 million, based on her and her husband's holding in the Hong Kong-listed company 39. CHEN RONG Age: 41 Birthplace: Nanhui district, southeastern Shanghai Education: High school, part-time course work towards master's Main company: Shanghai Zhonglu Group Main industry: Bowling equipment Wealth: US$60 million, based upon the group's 2000 net assets 40. HUANG HONGSHENG Age: 46 Birthplace: Hainan Education: University Main company: Hong Kong Chuanwei Group Main industry: Consumer electronics Wealth: US$60 million, based on his 36 per cent holding in the group, valued at US$178 million in July 1999 41. WANG WENJING Age: 36 Birthplace: Shangrao, Jiangxi Education: Jiangxi Finance University Main company: Beijing Yongyou Software Group (UFsoft Group) Main industry: Computer software Wealth: US$60 million, based on 1999 sales 42. WANG ZHIDONG Age: 33 Birthplace: Dongguan, Guangdong Education: Wireless telecoms at Beijing University Main company: Sina.com Main industry: Internet portal Wealth: US$57 million, based on his 6.5 per cent holding in the Nasdaq-listed company, valued at US$874 million as of August 31 43. HAN WEI Age: 44 Birthplace: Dalian, Liaoning Education: Left school at 15, recently completed part-time course work at university Main company: Dalian Hanwei Enterprise Group Main industry: Agriculture Wealth: US$56 million, based on his 76 per cent holding in the group as of 1999 44. LIU SHAOXI Age: 37 Birthplace: Shantou, Guangdong Education: Left school at 15, part-time course work at university Main company: Yihua Enterprise Group Main industry: Wooden floorboards and furniture Wealth: US$52 million, based on the group's 1998 net assets 45. SONG RUHUA Age: 38 Birthplace: Chengdu, Sichuan Education: Sichuan Institute of Telecom Engineering Main company: Sichuan Tuopu Group (Top Group) Main industry: computer software Wealth: US$50 million, based on his 26 per cent holding in the Shenzhen-listed subsidiary, valued at US$195 million as of August 31, but taking no account of other assets in the group 46. ZHU WEISHA Age: 45 Birthplace: Beijing Education: Beijing Industrial University Main company: Yuxing Infotech Holdings Main industry: Information appliances Wealth: US$50 million, based on his 26 per cent holding in the company, which listed on Hong Kong's Growth Enterprise Market in January 47. LU HANZHEN Age: 46 Birthplace: Cixi, Zhejiang Education: Left school at 12 Main company: Zhejiang Jinlun Group Main industry: Motorcycle-tyre parts Wealth: US$46 million, based on his 32 per cent holding of the group's 1998 net assets 48. HAN ZHAOSHAN Age: 50 Birthplace: Yingkou, Liaoning Education: University Main company: Panpan Group Main industry: Security doors Wealth: US$45 million, based on the group's 1999 assets 49. XUE YONGXIN Age: 48 Birthplace: Tongnan, Sichuan Education: Medicine at university Main company: Chengdu Enwei Shihen Pharmaceutical Main industry: Pharmaceuticals Wealth: US$45 million, based on the group's 1999 assets 50. YIN MINGSHAN Age: 62 Birthplace: Chongqing Education: Left school at 20 Main company: Chongqing Lifan Hongda Group Main industry: Motorcycles and motorcycle engines Wealth: US$42 million, based on the group's 1999 net assets