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Zong Qinghou

The latest news on Zong Qinghou, founder, chairman and CEO of the Hangzhou Wahaha Group, including China business news.

Born

16 Nov 1945

Industry

Business

Job Title

Founder of Wahaha Group

Goldman Sachs’ head of philanthropy engagement Carra Cote-Ackah said the US investment bank aimed to provide the best resources to clients in Asia to deal with legacy planning. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Wealth management

Exclusive | Goldman Sachs highlights legacy planning amid huge generational wealth transfer

For family-owned firms in Asia-Pacific, legacy planning is crucial to ensure business sustainability, US bank’s Carra Cote-Ackah says.

11 Aug 2025 - 7:31AM

China society

Opinion | Entrepreneur scandals reveal the limits of nationalism as a brand

4 Aug 2025 - 6:51AMvideocam

Millionaires and billionaires

Hong Kong court freezes US$1.8 billion HSBC account in Wahaha inheritance fight

1 Aug 2025 - 6:36PM

Family offices

Why are more wealthy mainland companies coming to Hong Kong for mediation?

An increasing number of wealthy mainland families are coming to Hong Kong for mediation services.

1 Aug 2025 - 8:30AM

A view of the skyline of Hong Kong Island across the Victoria Harbor from the Hong Kong Museum of Arts in Tsim Sha Tsui on August 11, 2023. Photo: Jelly Tse

Wealth management

Explainer | Why family feud at Wahaha is no laughing matter for China’s private businesses

At stake is succession planning at Wahaha, China’s biggest privately owned soft drink bottler with US$7.2 billion of sales in 2022.

18 Jul 2025 - 9:23PM

Wealth management

Wahaha heiress’ inheritance battle puts Chinese family firms in spotlight

Lawsuits raise questions about corporate governance amid pressure from shaky economy and keen competition, analysts say.

17 Jul 2025 - 2:50PM

Nongfu Spring

Billionaire founder of China’s Nongfu Spring pledges to end price war

Low prices are destroying the quality of Chinese products and undermining the economy, tycoon says.

24 Jan 2025 - 11:00AM

Zhong Shanshan is China’s richest man and the founder of bottled-water giant Nongfu Spring. Photo: @newmoney_gr/Instagram

Millionaires and billionaires

Wahaha heiress Kelly Zong back steering Chinese drinks giant

Zong is now legal representative, president and general manager, all positions held by her late father and founder of Hangzhou Wahaha Group.

31 Aug 2024 - 9:35PM

Millionaires and billionaires

China Wahaha heiress Kelly Zong Fuli back at helm after ‘friendly negotiations’

Kelly Zong Fuli, heiress of once China’s largest soft drink producer, returns to the helm after resigning last week, following “friendly negotiations” with shareholders.

23 Jul 2024 - 1:10PM

Millionaires and billionaires

Wahaha heiress Kelly Zong Fuli quits 5 months after founder father’s death

In an internal letter, Zong blames her resignation on the district government and some shareholders who questioned her legitimacy as the company’s leader.

18 Jul 2024 - 6:00PM

China economy

Letters | Why the death of a Chinese billionaire sparked public mourning

Readers discuss the reaction to the passing of the founder of Wahaha Group, and the slaughter of donkeys for an in-demand product in China.

7 Mar 2024 - 11:30AM

People pay their respects and place bouquets outside the headquarters of Wahaha following the death of its founder Zong Qinghou, in Hangzhou in eastern China’s Zhejiang province on February 26. Photo: AFP

China society

Editorial | Wahaha chief blazed trail for entrepreneurs

The beverage giant founder Zong Qinghou, one of China’s Mao era ‘sent-down youth’, cut a pathway for business leaders who followed as the country modernised.

28 Feb 2024 - 6:15AM

Obituaries

Zong Qinghou, Chinese billionaire founder of Wahaha beverage group, dead at 79

Zong Qinghou turned a small drinks distributor into a beverage conglomerate that bested French partner Danone to dominate the China market.

25 Feb 2024 - 9:57PM

Man held after China’s second richest man Zong Qinghou injured in knife attack

18 Sep 2013 - 8:14PM

Hangzhou Wahaha Group president Zong Qinghou

Wahaha boss urges tax cuts to lift growth

Zong Qinghou, chairman of Hangzhou Wahaha Group yesterday said the company plans to open at least 100 shopping centres across the mainland over the next three to five years.

19 Jul 2013 - 5:42AM

Britain

Opinion | China's richest man 'snubs Queen Elizabeth, David Cameron'

5 Mar 2018 - 4:52PM

Stay out of politics, billionaire Zong Qinghou warns Chinese entrepreneurs

14 Mar 2013 - 11:51AM

Heiress Zong Fuli says money can't buy her love

11 Jan 2013 - 5:03AM

Zong Fuli, 30, with her dad, Zong Qinghou. Photo: SCMP

Billionaire’s daughter: I'm rich and boyfriendless

What is like to be the daughter of China’s wealthiest man? 'Rich and boyfriendless', according to the only daughter and heiress of beverage tycoon and billionaire Zong Qinghou.

10 Jan 2013 - 6:42PM

Baidu

China's top 100 rich-list fall in value

13 Oct 2012 - 4:57AM

Beverage tycoon tops Forbes' China rich list

Beverage tycoon Zong Qinghou regained his position as China’s richest man this year, Forbes magazine said on Friday, but the global economic slump took its toll on other billionaires.

12 Oct 2012 - 2:46PM

Wahaha chairman Zong Qinghou, China's richest man. Photo: Simon Song

Wahaha seeks global acquisitions

14 Sep 2012 - 9:25AM

Soft drink maker emerges as mainland's richest man

7 Sep 2012 - 3:29AM

Water tycoon still keen to expand, despite setbacks

5 Mar 2012 - 12:00AM

Baidu

A good week for ...

11 Sep 2011 - 12:00AM

Drinks boss defends his stand on charity

2 May 2011 - 12:00AM

BYD

Buffett magic lifts Wang to top of China rich list

6 Nov 2009 - 12:00AM

Wahaha-Danone talks hit by court ruling

15 Jul 2008 - 12:00AM

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