Zhang Xin (businesswoman)
Encyclopedia
Zhang Xin is a businesswoman from Mainland China
. Presently, she is the CEO of SOHO China
, the largest real estate
developer in Beijing
.
Her parents returned to China from Burma in the fifties and worked as translators at the Bureau of Foreign Languages. They separated during the Cultural Revolution
.
Born in Beijing
in 1965, Zhang Xin moved to Hong Kong at age of 14 with her mother and lived in a room just big enough for two bunk beds. She worked for five years in small factories that make garment and electronic products to save for education abroad. She described the 'conditions there were similar to those in mainland China today'.
By 19, she had saved enough for airfare to London and supporting herself for English study at secretarial school.
Later, she studied Economics
at the University of Sussex
. In 1992, she graduated with a Master’s Degree in Development Economics from Cambridge University.
Upon graduation, she was hired by Barings Plc to work in Hong Kong.
She soon moved to Goldman Sachs
and started working for the investment bank. In 1994 she switched to
Travelers Group before returning to her hometown, Beijing. She co-founded Hongshi (meaning Red Stone), which became SOHO China, with her husband Pan Shiyi
in 1995.
The couple was described by The Times of London as 'China’s most visible and flamboyant property tycoons'.
SOHO China is the largest property developer in central Beijing.
Zhang Xin has won many prestigious international awards for her role as a patron of visionary architecture in China and as an innovative entrepreneur. She won BusinessWeek
´s Stars of Asia Award for the year of 2004, and was awarded a Special Prize at the 8th la Biennale di Venezia. She also received the Year 2004 Montblanc Arts Patronage Award. In 2007, she was selected as one of the “Ten Women to Watch in Asia” by the Wall Street Journal. In 2008, she was listed among Forbes magazine's "World's Most Powerful Women". In 2009, Zhang Xin was included among Forbes’ "Top Ten Billionaire Women We Admire" and Financial Times’ "Top 50 Women in World Business". In March 2010 she was named among “China Top 10 Career Women Role Models in 2009” by the All-China Women’s Federation, China Sun Media Group, Sina.com and Hunan TV.
Zhang Xin is a member and Young Global Leader of World Economic Forum, Davos, as well as a trustee of China Institute in America and a member of Asia Business Council.
She and her husband, Pan Shiyi, are members of the Bahá'í Faith
since 2005. She also made a cameo appearance as a Chinese merchant in the movie WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Presently, she is the CEO of SOHO China
SOHO China
SOHO China Limited , founded in 1995, is the largest real-estate developer in Beijing, China . The company is incorporated in Cayman Islands. The founders are Pan Shiyi , a former Oil Ministry employee, and his wife Zhang Xin , a former Goldman Sachs employee...
, the largest real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
developer in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Her parents returned to China from Burma in the fifties and worked as translators at the Bureau of Foreign Languages. They separated during the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
.
Born in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
in 1965, Zhang Xin moved to Hong Kong at age of 14 with her mother and lived in a room just big enough for two bunk beds. She worked for five years in small factories that make garment and electronic products to save for education abroad. She described the 'conditions there were similar to those in mainland China today'.
By 19, she had saved enough for airfare to London and supporting herself for English study at secretarial school.
Later, she studied Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
. In 1992, she graduated with a Master’s Degree in Development Economics from Cambridge University.
Upon graduation, she was hired by Barings Plc to work in Hong Kong.
She soon moved to Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
and started working for the investment bank. In 1994 she switched to
Travelers Group before returning to her hometown, Beijing. She co-founded Hongshi (meaning Red Stone), which became SOHO China, with her husband Pan Shiyi
Pan Shiyi
Pan Shiyi is a wealthy businessman from Mainland China. Presently, he is the Chairman of SOHO China, the largest real estate developer in Beijing. He co-founded SOHO China with his wife Zhang Xin in 1995. The couple was described by The Times of London as 'China’s most visible and flamboyant...
in 1995.
The couple was described by The Times of London as 'China’s most visible and flamboyant property tycoons'.
SOHO China is the largest property developer in central Beijing.
Zhang Xin has won many prestigious international awards for her role as a patron of visionary architecture in China and as an innovative entrepreneur. She won BusinessWeek
BusinessWeek
Bloomberg Businessweek, commonly and formerly known as BusinessWeek, is a weekly business magazine published by Bloomberg L.P. It is currently headquartered in New York City.- History :...
´s Stars of Asia Award for the year of 2004, and was awarded a Special Prize at the 8th la Biennale di Venezia. She also received the Year 2004 Montblanc Arts Patronage Award. In 2007, she was selected as one of the “Ten Women to Watch in Asia” by the Wall Street Journal. In 2008, she was listed among Forbes magazine's "World's Most Powerful Women". In 2009, Zhang Xin was included among Forbes’ "Top Ten Billionaire Women We Admire" and Financial Times’ "Top 50 Women in World Business". In March 2010 she was named among “China Top 10 Career Women Role Models in 2009” by the All-China Women’s Federation, China Sun Media Group, Sina.com and Hunan TV.
Zhang Xin is a member and Young Global Leader of World Economic Forum, Davos, as well as a trustee of China Institute in America and a member of Asia Business Council.
She and her husband, Pan Shiyi, are members of the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
since 2005. She also made a cameo appearance as a Chinese merchant in the movie WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS.
External links
- "China's Billionaire Builder," Bloomberg Markets Magazine, Aug 11, 2010