China's richest woman, Chen Lihua, has passed away: How will her hundreds of billions in inheritance be divided? The story behind Chi Chongrui's relationship with his children and the details involved

The passing of Chen Lihua, a legendary figure in China’s business world, has drawn widespread attention. The entrepreneur, known for real estate investing and Chinese rosewood culture, has not only left an indelible mark on the business arena, but her distinctive family relationships and wealth succession arrangements have also become a major focus of public discussion. According to publicly available information, Chen Lihua has built a business footprint through the Fuhua International Group spanning multiple sectors, including real estate, high-end hotels, and cultural tourism. In the 2025 Hurun Wealth List, she ranks among the top with a fortune of over 50 billion yuan.

This self-made female entrepreneur accumulated her original capital through furniture restoration in her early years. In the 1980s, she shifted her focus to the Hong Kong real estate market to achieve a leap in capital. In the early 1990s, she returned to Beijing to invest in real estate projects. Over the past three decades of ups and downs in the real estate industry, her conservative and steady investment strategy has allowed her wealth not to fall but to rise—growing from 39 billion yuan in 2019 to over 50 billion yuan today. This kind of business wisdom that allows one to navigate through cycles stands out even more against the backdrop of many real estate entrepreneurs encountering difficulties in the same period.

In terms of family relationships, Chen Lihua’s life trajectory is marked by a certain drama. Her first marriage produced one son and two daughters. Her eldest son, Zhao Yong, has now fully taken over the group’s operations. Her eldest daughter, Zhao Li, is responsible for the hotel and cultural tourism segment, while her second daughter, Zhao Min manages the operation of the rosewood museum. Her remarriage in 1990 to actor Chi Zhongrui sparked controversy in society at the time. The couple—who were 11 years apart—broke through outside doubts with more than three decades of mutual support. Although they had no children together, Chi Zhongrui held an executive position at the rosewood museum and took an in-depth role in building cultural endeavors.

Regarding inheritance distribution, there has not yet been any official disclosure. However, according to insiders, in past interviews Chi Zhongrui had explicitly stated that he refused to inherit any property, believing that massive wealth would become a burden in life. This detached attitude presents an interesting contrast to his actual role within the family— as an important member of a Manchu family, he strictly followed traditional etiquette standards and maintained a harmonious way of getting along with his stepson and stepdaughters. This large family with four generations living under the same roof has preserved the tradition of living together to this day, which is truly rare in contemporary society.

Chen Lihua’s business legacy is not only reflected in material wealth, but also in the “culture + business” development model she pioneered. Landmark projects such as the Goldenbao Street in Beijing perfectly integrate traditional architectural aesthetics with modern business operations, while the rosewood museum has established a unique platform for intangible heritage protection and cultural communication. This business philosophy that goes beyond mere real estate development may be the key reason her wealth has been able to weather economic cycles. Amid the deep adjustment of the real estate industry, the business wisdom of this legendary businesswoman is still worth further in-depth exploration.