September 17 2008, Shanghai
Hurun Research Institute today released the
inaugural Hurun Icons and Innovators, a list of the fifty Mainland Chinese that
have changed the lifestyle and values of China’s entrepreneurs. Icons and
Innovators is proudly presented by Rado.
On 23 October 2008, Hurun Report presented nine of the fifty Icons and
Innovators with awards at the
Hurun Tenth Anniversary Launch Party.
Icons and Innovators is divided into three broad categories: social icons,
cultural icons and fashion icons.
Jet Li, one of China’s biggest exports, is most well-known for his fighting
skills in many Kung Fu films. However he was a softer side as the founder of the
“One Foundation” to help the victims of the 2008 earthquake, who’s motto is “One
person + One RMB + Once a month = One big family”.
Li Ning is China’s most famous Olympic gymnast, highlighted by his role as the
final torch bearer for the Beijing Olympic Games. He is now worth US$1 billion
as a successful entrepreneur with his sports apparel brand “Li Ning”.
Yang Lan is one of China’s best-known TV hostesses and owner, with her husband
Bruno Wu, of SunMedia Investments.
Methodology
Our editorial team interviewed entrepreneurs the length and breadth of the
country, asking them who they considered to be influencing their lifestyle
values. The results of this research was then brought to a committee of eight
influential socialites including Yue-Sai Kan and Richard Chen, who finalized the
list. To make this list, you must have been born and brought up in Mainland
China no matter what your passport is today, and had an influence in the past
year.
2008 Hurun Icons and Innovators List
| Social Icons |
| Jet Li |
Age 45 |
Kung Fu star and founder of the "One Foundation" for the 2008
earthquake. "1 person + 1 RMB + once a month = one big family ". |
| Li Ning |
Age 45 |
Top gymnast, now worth US$1 billion with his brand "Li Ning". Lit
the torch at the Beijing Olympic Games 2008. |
| Yang Lan |
Age 40 |
Businesswoman, talk show hostess and co-owner with her husband of
Sun Television Cybernetworks in Shanghai. |
| Zhang Chaoyang |
Age 44 |
Head of Sohu.com, one of the sponsors to the 2008 Beijing Olympic
Games. |
| Pan Shiyi & Zhang Xin |
Age 45/43 |
Owner of SOHO China. Funded a series of avant-garde and modern
construction projects, known as "Changing the Urban Landscape". |
| Zhang Lan |
Age 44 |
Founder of "South Beauty" restaurant, and club "Lan" in Beijing and
Shanghai. |
| Wang Xingzheng |
Age 55 |
The owner of up-and-coming elite club "Fu Yong". |
| Wang Zhongjin |
Age 48 |
Chairman of Huayi Brothers Media Group. Art collector, especially
paintings and sculptures. |
| Wang Chaoyong |
Age 43 |
Chairman of China Equity. Active venture capitalist in China. Spent
US$59 million to create a Chinese team in the"America's Cup" |
| Wang Qiuyang |
Age 41 |
Co-president of Antaeus Group. Set up Apple Foundation to continue
to improve education and health in Tibet. |
| Cultural Icons |
| Zhang Yimou |
Age 57 |
Film, opera, ballet and large-scale live performance director.
Choreographer for opening ceremony of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. |
| Liu Huan |
Age 45 |
Pop singer, professional music teacher and respected artist. Sang
"I'm With You" atr 2008 Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony. |
| Liu Xiaodong |
Age 46 |
Realist artist, epitomized by the "Three Gorges of the New
Immigrants”. His works have gone for high prices in many Chinese
contemporary art auctions. |
| Tan Dun |
Age 50 |
Composer, well-known works featured in the movie "Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon", also composed the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Award
Distribution music. |
| Ma Yansong |
Age 33 |
China's first architect to win the right to design a building in an
open international design competition - the "Monroe Building" in Canada. |
| Feng Xiaogang |
Age 50 |
Director, representative of the Chinese New Year film. |
| Yi Zhongtian |
Age 61 |
Scholar, professor of Xiamen University School of Humanities. Wrote
"Yi Zhong Tian” “Appreciate” and “Annals of the Three Kingdoms”. |
| Ai Weiwei |
Age 51 |
Artist, leader of Chinese experimental art movement. Assistant
director on hit TV series "Beijing People in New York". China consultant
for "Bird's Nest" (National Stadium) for the 2008 Olympic Games in
Beijing. |
| Chen Qigang |
Age 57 |
Classical poet. Composed the theme song "You and I" for the 2008
Olympic Games opening ceremony. |
| Jiang Wen |
Age 45 |
Actor and director. Chinese international filmmaker. Works include
"Sunny Days", "To the Devil" and "The Sun Also Rises". |
| Jia Zhangke |
Age 38 |
Director. Created the short film "Xiao Wu", describing the story of
great social transformation by focusing on language. Representative for
"Still Life" and won Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival. |
| Zhao Xiaojun |
Age 41 |
Architect. Designed the "Water Cube" for the 2008 Olympics in
Beijing. |
| Yu Dan |
Age 43 |
Professor, academic, famous for CCTV’s "Hundred Forum”. Committed to
education for all. Published "The Analects of Confucius". |
| Gu Changwei |
Age 51 |
Photographer, director. Official film consultant for 2008 Beijing
Olympics. His film "Peacock" won a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film
Festival. He also released "Beginning of Spring". |
| Fang Lijun |
Age 45 |
Contemporary artist. Created a unique way of expression "Wan Shi
Realism". |
| Fan Dian |
Age 53 |
Art gallery curator, former vice president of the Central Academy of
Fine Arts. Extremely active as a curator and art theorist. Created
measures to bring "people closer to art" with art education throughout
the country. |
| Ma Weidu |
Age 53 |
Writer, collector, museum host. He is committed to the ancient art
of furniture finishing in the CCTV "Hundred Forum". |
| Hong Huang |
Age 47 |
President of China Interactive Media Group, publisher and curator of
a number of fashion magazines. Autobiography entitled "My Non-Normal
Life". |
| Kong Xiangdong |
Age 40 |
Musician, active in international music circle. Received a number of
international honours. First concert artist to play a large-scale
concert on the roof of the world - Lhasa, Tibet. |
| Ding Yi |
Age 46 |
Teacher at Shanghai College of Arts and Crafts, Chinese abstract
painter and pioneer. |
| Fashion Icons |
| Zhang Ziyi |
Age 29 |
The most internationally well-known Chinese actress. Made
high-profile donation to the Wenchuan earthquake. |
| Liu Xiang |
Age 25 |
110 meter hurdler. Set the world record at 2004 Athens Olympic
Games. |
| Wang Fei & Li Yapeng |
Age 39/37 |
Famous entertainment duo. Launched the "Yan Ran Angel Fund" to allow
more children with cleft lip and palate to receive treatment. |
| Lang Lang |
Age 26 |
Chinese pianist. Goodwill Ambassador of the International United
Nations Children's Fund. Started China’s interest in classical music. |
| Yao Ming |
Age 28 |
Basketball player. First non-American NBA player. He is recognized
as the best center in the NBA. |
| Gong Li |
Age 43 |
Movie actor. Huge box-office appeal and brand value as the
personification of Oriental style. |
| Han Feng |
Age 46 |
Costume designer. Shocks the world with "Madame Butterfly". Works at
"Vogue". Also guest lecturer at Harvard University and Parson's School
of Design. |
| Xu Jinglei |
Age 34 |
Film director and actor. The number of browses for her on Sina is
soon to reach 200,000,000. |
| Guo Jingjing |
Age 27 |
Diver. Won world championship 25 times. She is leader of China's
diving team. |
| Huang Xiaoming |
Age 31 |
Television actor. Seen as "the first mainland costume film star”. |
| Zhang Zhaoda |
Age 45 |
Costume designer for Mark Fairwhale. His designs are modern,
comfortable and luxurious, yet elegant and refined. |
| Fan Bingbing |
Age 27 |
Television actor, singer, set up her own company. She epitomises the
super-optimistic self-confident “Me Generation”. |
| Li Yundi |
Age 26 |
One of the most respected pianists in the East. |
| Du Juan |
Age 21 |
Super model. Featured on international fashion magazines and fashion
shows. |
| Ji Cheng |
Age 31 |
Costume designer, the spokesman for the LUX brand. Created “La Vie”,
a popular brand. |
| Zhou Xun |
Age 32 |
Television actor, Chinese Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations
Development Program. Campaigner for environmental protection. |
| Jin Yuhong |
Age 38 |
Furniture designer, committed to carry forward Chinese neo-classical
art. Established fashion boutique “Kingdom”. |
| Lv Yan |
Age 27 |
International model, Lv Yan is a symbol of China throughout the
globe. |
| Li Dongtian |
Age 34 |
China's top makeup artist, stylist and model |
| Huang Doudou |
Age 31 |
Top actor in the Shanghai Song & Dance Ensemble. Most well-known
Chinese contemporary dancer. He relies on dance to facilitate cultural
exchange. |
