The Power List is designed to highlight the benefits China's entrepreneurs are bringing to their country.

In a country with a significant rich/poor divide, the 2005 Hurun Report China Power List flags ten entrepreneurs from the 2005 Hurun Report China Rich List that have contributed significantly to the economy. When ranking the most powerful people from the Rich List, o ur editorial team considered their economic impact (sales, taxes paid and number of people employed), strategic importance of the industries they operate in, political impact (whether a delegate to the National People's Congress or the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and if so, for how many terms), media and social impact.

Growing wealth brings with it growing power. Whilst we have yet to see one of China's tycoons take on a senior government position, as is common in the US and parts of Europe, there is a growing appreciation by ordinary Chinese of the impact they are having on the fast-developing economy. Power may ethereal, as impalpable or intangible as air, but its effects influences the lives of many.

The people from the Power List are the pathfinders, paving the way for others to follow in.