In 2006, Zhang Yin became the first Chinese female entrepreneur to make it onto the Forbes Magazine list, surging past Harry Potter novelist J.K. Rowling and American talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, as one of the 10 wealthiest self-made women in the world. Zhang's waste paper recycling empire made her the richest woman in China.

Because of the current financial crisis, Zhang Yin is no longer one of the world's richest self-made wome, but real estate mogul Zhang Xin from SOHO China, and Chu Lam Liu from Huabao International, a fragrance and flavoring company based in Hong Kong, are listed in the Forbes March 2009 list of "Billionaire Women We Admire".

"Most of China's female entrepreneurs are first generation," said Rupert Hoogewerf, who organized the Hurun Richest list, which competes with Forbes' ranking. "The stories of these individuals tell the story of modern China."

In Hurun's 2008 Richest Women in China List, the total wealth of the 50 individuals listed is $37.4 billion, with an average wealth of $748 million. The Top 10 makes up 56.7 percent of this total wealth. The average age of the entrepreneurs featured on the list is 44.6.

It was not until the beginning of the economic reforms of 1978 that women in China really began to make their mark in business.

"Thanks to the economic reforms, I could have the chance to start my own career," said Guan Yuxiang, the chairwoman of ORG Can Manufacturing Company Inc.

Real estate is the most prevalent industry on the list with 16 individuals. The next most common is retail with five, while steel and pharmaceuticals have four each.

Six of the women are natives of Jiangsu province. Thirteen have their head office in Guangdong province in South China.

(China Daily 03/30/2009 page12)