The top five overseas Chinese real estate developers

 As of July 2025, the top five overseas Chinese real estate developers with notable international projects include:

1. China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. (COLI)
   • Famous Projects: One Peninsula in Hong Kong and Marina One in Singapore, showcasing luxury residential and mixed-use developments with a focus on sustainability.
2. Country Garden Holdings
   • Famous Projects: Forest City in Malaysia, a massive $100 billion township on reclaimed islands, and Danga Bay in Malaysia, a mixed-use development targeting international buyers.
3. R&F Properties
   • Famous Projects: R&F Princess Cove in Malaysia and R&F Centre in London, blending residential and commercial spaces with a global footprint.
4. Sunac China Holdings
   • Famous Projects: Sunac Sky Villa in Australia and mixed-use developments in Singapore, emphasizing high-end residential and commercial properties.
5. Vanke
   • Famous Projects: Vanke Fifth Park in the UK and Vanke Dragon City in Malaysia, known for mid-range to luxury residential complexes with innovative design.

These developers have expanded beyond China, leveraging their expertise in large-scale projects to cater to international markets, though their overseas success varies amid China’s domestic real estate challenges.

Below is a detailed description and history of each of the top five overseas Chinese real estate developers: China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. (COLI), Country Garden Holdings, R&F Properties, Sunac China Holdings, and Vanke. These accounts are based on available information and observations up to July 2

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China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. (COLI)

Description: China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. (COLI), commonly known as China Overseas, is a Hong Kong-based real estate conglomerate and an indirect subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited (CSCECL). It specializes in property development, construction, and infrastructure investment, with a strong presence in Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China. COLI is renowned for its high-quality residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects, often incorporating sustainable design elements.

History: Founded in June 1979, COLI began as a construction and contracting firm before expanding into property development. It was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as a red-chip stock in August 1992, marking its entry into the public market. In July 2005, it spun off its construction business into China State Construction International Holdings Limited (CSCI), allowing it to focus more on real estate. By December 2007, COLI joined the Hang Seng Index as a blue-chip stock, reflecting its growing influence. Over the years, it has developed iconic projects like One Peninsula in Hong Kong, a luxury residential complex, and Marina One in Singapore, a mixed-use development blending residential, commercial, and retail spaces. Its success is tied to its state-backed parent, CSCECL, which provides significant financial and strategic support.

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Country Garden Holdings

Description: Country Garden Holdings, based in Guangdong, China, is a major property developer owned by the family of founder Yang Guoqiang. Known for its township-style developments, it builds residential projects, including townhouses, condominiums, and commercial spaces like car parks and retail shops. The company also ventures into hotel management and robotics research, reflecting a diversified business model. Despite recent financial challenges, it remains a significant player in the global market.

History: Established in 1992 in Guangdong, Country Garden initially focused on residential projects in southern China. In 2005, Yang transferred his shares to his daughter, Yang Huiyan, who became a prominent figure in the industry. The company went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on April 20, 2007, with Yang Huiyan named Asia’s wealthiest woman by Forbes that October, boasting a net worth of $16 billion. By 2014, it ranked as China’s sixth-largest developer by sales revenue. A notable milestone came in 2015 when Ping An Insurance acquired a 9.9% stake for $800 million. Internationally, its Forest City project in Malaysia, a $100 billion township on reclaimed land, and Danga Bay in Malaysia highlight its ambitious overseas expansion. However, financial troubles emerged in 2023 with a default on $11 billion in offshore bonds amid China’s property sector crisis, leading to a significant sales drop to RMB 375.5 billion in 2023, slipping it to sixth among Chinese developers.

• The golden age of real estate in China is over. 50% of the richest men got rich because they invested in real Estate.

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R&F Properties

Description: R&F Properties, headquartered in Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou, Guangdong, is a leading Chinese real estate company founded in 1994 by Li Silian. It integrates property design, development, engineering supervision, sales, and management, with a focus on luxury and mixed-use developments. The company is known for its international projects and once held a spot in the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index.

History: Launched in 1994, R&F Properties grew rapidly in Guangzhou before listing its H shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on July 14, 2005. It became the first mainland real estate firm to join the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, though it was removed in 2011. A significant expansion occurred in December 2009 when it partnered with a consortium, including Country Garden, on various projects. In July 2017, R&F acquired 76 hotel projects from Wanda Group for RMB 19.906 billion, boosting its portfolio to over 100 hotels worldwide, making it the largest five-star hotel owner globally at the time. Notable overseas projects include R&F Princess Cove in Malaysia and R&F Centre in London. However, in July 2023, it faced a bankruptcy liquidation filing over a commercial dispute, though the Guangzhou Intermediate People’s Court rejected the application, citing normal operations.

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Sunac China Holdings

Description: Sunac China Holdings, based in Tianjin, China, is a major property developer founded in 2003 by Sun Hongbin. It focuses on large-scale, medium-to-high-end residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments, with a growing presence in cultural tourism projects. The company is recognized for its luxury apartments and innovative designs, aligning with its "passion for perfection" philosophy.

History: Established by Sun Hongbin, who previously founded Sunco Group, Sunac began operations in Tianjin before expanding to cities like Beijing, Chongqing, and Wuxi. It went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on October 7, 2010, with an IPO price of HK$3.48 per share. A landmark deal came in July 2017 when Sunac acquired 13 tourism projects and 76 hotels from Dalian Wanda for $9.3 billion, the second-largest real estate deal in China at the time. This acquisition, followed by a $900 million purchase of Wanda’s 13 theme parks in October 2018, solidified its tourism portfolio, including projects like Chongqing Sunac Land (opened 2020) and Guangzhou Sunac Land (2019). Despite strong growth, with profits reaching $3.7 billion in 2019 (up 57% from 2018), the company has faced challenges amid China’s property sector downturn, impacting its overseas projects.

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Vanke

Description: Vanke, founded in 1988 by Wang Shi, is a leading Chinese residential real estate developer headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong. It operates in over 60 mainland Chinese cities and has expanded internationally to Hong Kong, the UK, the US, and Malaysia since 2012. With Shenzhen Metro as its largest shareholder, Vanke offers a range of properties from affordable units to luxury options, alongside property services and commercial developments.

History: Vanke was established in 1988 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 1991, becoming the second company on that exchange after Shenzhen Development Bank. It achieved the largest market capitalization on the exchange in 2006 and ranked 96th on the Forbes Global 2000 in 2020, with a market cap of $44 billion as of February 2019. International expansion began in 2012, with notable projects like Vanke Fifth Park in the UK and Vanke Dragon City in Malaysia. However, by March 2024, Moody’s downgraded its credit rating to Ba1 due to substantial debt risks, with $4.9 billion in bonds maturing in 2025. In January 2025, CEO Zhu Jiusheng’s detention and a closed Shenzhen government meeting signaled efforts to stabilize the company amid a struggling property market.

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These developers have shaped the global real estate landscape with their ambitious projects, though they navigate challenges like debt and market volatility, particularly in 2025.

the real estate sector in China 5 news

 As of July 2025, the real estate sector in China is facing significant challenges and shifts, based on recent developments:

• Ongoing Price Declines: Home prices continue to drop, with resale prices falling 0.75% in June 2025 compared to a 0.71% decline in May, and a year-on-year slump of 7.26%, according to the China Index Academy. New home prices also rose at a slower pace (0.19% in June vs. 0.30% in May), signaling persistent market weakness.
• Prolonged Downturn Forecast: Goldman Sachs predicts a potential 10% further decline in home prices by 2027, following a 20% drop since 2021, due to limited policy response and weak demand. This could extend the crisis, with recovery possibly starting in top-tier cities by late 2026.
• Economic Impact: The sector’s struggles, exacerbated by a shrinking population and reduced urbanization, are hitting local governments hard with lost tax revenues from land sales. About 70% of household wealth tied to real estate amplifies the economic ripple effects.
• Policy Efforts: Beijing has introduced measures like mortgage rate cuts and a CNY 8.7 million affordable housing target, but these have had limited impact, especially in lower-tier cities, where demand remains sluggish.
• Market Size and Growth: Despite the crisis, the market was valued at USD 5.30 trillion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 6.98 trillion by 2030, with a 3.9% CAGR, driven by urbanization and smart city initiatives, though this growth masks underlying instability.

These trends reflect a sector in transition, with opportunities in sustainable and urban projects, but also deep structural challenges.

Paid ads in real estate in China

Leading Chinese search engine company Baidu has led a $50 million financing round for Anjuke, a major real estate marketplace in China. Anjuke, which was founded in Shanghai in 2007, provides a platform that connects property buyers, homeowners and real estate agents to buy and sell secondhand properties online.

Anjuke last year also launched Haozu.com and Aifang.com to expand to property rental and new property sales, respectively.

source https://techcrunch.com/2011/03/08/baidu-leads-50-million-funding-round-for-chinese-real-estate-marketplace-anjuke/

The company currently boasts over 800 employees in 20 offices, and offers its service in 20 Chinese cities. Anjuke in a press statement says it will use the additional capital to invest in geographic expansion and R&D.

Matrix Partners China, which is affiliated with U.S.-based venture capital firm Matrix Partners, also participated in the round. Anjuke has raised $72 million to date

Given the incremental growth of mobile users, Baidu will certainly continue to invest heavily in its mobile ecosystem in order to bring a better user experience. This provides a lucrative opportunity for marketers to reach a wider and more engaged audience base.

https://marketingtochina.com/guide-baidu-ppc-advertising-china/

To put it simply, Baidu is a step you can’t skip in China. 75% of all first-stage research is conducted based on this search engine. However, to have effective advertising campaigns on Baidu, you need to use Mandarin Chinese keywords, we can help you with this task.

Baidu’s User Demographic

Baidu’s traffic is all search-based, you tend to have a very qualified set of users who are seeking for information extensively. PPC is one side of reaching out to this audience whilst SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is also a major part of Baidu’s success.

The Chinese property market in 2022 (Full analysis)

 The debt problems of a Chinese property developer have now reached a critical artery of China's industrial engine, the steel sector. This has started to ripple out to other crucial parts of the second-largest country in the world.

Chinese property

Policymakers should be aware of the growing balance-sheet crisis at real property firms. A swing in fortunes in the steel industry could have serious repercussions on China's economy. Cement, glass and household appliances are all susceptible to falling demand.

Steel prices have fallen from record highs earlier this year, due to less demand from construction activities. Share prices of steelmakers have also been affected.

Steel's keen sensitivity to changes in construction and manufacturing makes the company a key indicator of China's economy. The slowdown has begun to show signs since the second quarter. The steel firms are large employers and support a huge supply chain.

In China real estate market is complicated and changing explained this lawyer in China.

Real estate developers in China

Real estate developers are reducing investment in steel operations to save cash in a sector that is being squeezed by tighter borrowing rules. This has engulfed many indebted companies like China Evergrande Group.

"We usually stockpile steel products in winter for relatively low prices, and then sell them after the new-year holidays when consumption resumes." We are holding back this year," stated Qi Xiaoliang (a Beijing-based steel trader).

He said that there is still uncertainty in the 2022 real estate market and that the situation will not be completely reversed for six to twelve months.

source

The property market suffered a further blow in the last quarter of 2021. Unease in the sector caused a shakeup in buyer sentiment. In November, unsold housing stock reached a five year high in China's 100 largest cities.

In 2022, demand for houses is expected to decrease further, which will impact downstream producers of household products.

Another construction material, cement production, fell by around 16percent in September-November compared to the same period between 2017-2019. In recent months, there has been a drop in demand for earth excavators.

You can also see the wider spillover effects of the property slump elsewhere. For example, the monthly output of refrigerators in the appliances industry has been declining from May to November, on an annual basis.

source

The debt problems of a Chinese property developer have now reached a critical artery of China's industrial engine, the steel sector. This has started to ripple out to other crucial parts of the second-largest country in the world.

Policymakers should be aware of the growing balance-sheet crisis at real property firms. A swing in fortunes in the steel industry could have serious repercussions on China's economy. Cement, glass and household appliances are all susceptible to falling demand.

Steel prices are already down from record highs earlier this year, due to lower demand from construction activities. This accounts for more than half of the metal's total consumption. However, steelmakers' share prices have been hit.

Steel's high sensitivity to changes in construction and manufacturing makes the firm a key indicator of China's economy.

To save cash in a sector that is struggling to meet steel production, real estate developers have slowed down investment in projects in order to preserve cash. Most notably China Evergrande Group (3333.HK).. read more

"We usually stockpile steel products in winter for relatively low prices, and then sell them after the new-year holidays when consumption resumes." We are holding back this year," stated Qi Xiaoliang (a Beijing-based steel trader).

China's property

China's outlook for property could improve over the coming months, but there are two things that must occur in order for the sector to recover, an analyst told CNBC Friday.

Logan Wright, director, China markets research at Rhodium Group, stated that stabilizing property sales and allowing more access to Chinese funds could help boost the real estate industry in China.

source 

"Conditions are clearly emerging for a more positive outlook for the Chinese real estate sector, the economy as a whole and for implications for risk asset management."

He said that there is still uncertainty in the 2022 real estate market and that the situation will not be completely reversed for six to twelve months.

The property market suffered a further blow in the fourth quarter of 2021. Unease in the sector caused a shakeup in buyer sentiment. In November, unsold housing stock in China’s 100 largest cities reached a five year high. Read more

In 2022, demand for housing is expected to rise further, which will impact downstream producers of household products. Read more

Another construction material, cement production, saw a 16% drop in September-November year on year. It was also lower than the same period between 2017-2019. In recent months, there has been a drop in demand for earth excavators.

You can also see the wider spillover effects of the property slump elsewhere. For example, the monthly output of refrigerators in the appliances industry has been declining from May to November, on an annual basis.

China Beige

According to data from China Beige Book International and other sources, bank credit is being extended to property firms at an even higher level than during any period in the second or third quarters. Mortgage lending increased to 200 billion Yuan ($31bn) in October, compared to 150 billion yuan ($23.5bn) in the previous month.

Officials in Chengdu (the capital of Sichuan's southwestern province) are speeding up approvals for property loans and home sales. They also ease restrictions on the use of proceeds from presales. Some cities have relaxed rules regarding land parcel sales in response to cash-strapped developers who are reluctant to bid for land.

They are likely to keep following their policy to cool the real estate market. However, regulators have indicated that banks are likely to loosen credit control after they indicate that excessive reactions to policies are the cause of the slowdown.

China's realty sector

Officials have described China's realty sector as a threat to economic stability. It accounts for 25% of China's economy. China is home to eight of the 10 largest property developers worldwide. Beijing knew about the danger of overleveraging long before Evergrande's debt crisis sent investors reeling.

Beijing started restricting borrowing in August 2020 with the "three redlines" policy. This stipulates that developers who are looking to refinance must have a 70% ceiling on liabilities to assets (exempting advance proceeds from contracts), a 100 percent cap on net debt and equity, and a cash to short-term borrowing ratio of no less than one.

https://www.chinawhisper.com/top-10-of-chinese-real-estate-firms/

These restrictions have led to a decline in house prices, house sales, and new construction this year. Real estate investment growth, which was 38.3 percent at its peak in January, fell to 21.6 percent, 10.9 percent, and 7.2 percent respectively in October, April, July, and July.

Qazi stated that "the former growth model, which was high in debt, high investment and high growth, is no longer viable." "Beijing realizes it must shift to a more sustainable model that will allow for slower growth.

Qazi stated that Beijing seemed to be flexible in its approach to restructuring the sector.

He said that Beijing is working with the local governments of 200 cities in which Evergrande still has unfinished projects. "They are creating task forces to assess the condition of these unbuilt properties, and transfer them to new development so Chinese households receive what they have paid for." The government has adopted a flexible policy in relation to leverage by allowing the developers to keep the outstanding debt from these properties off their balance sheets.

Weird Chinese Products

Internet China

3 Chinese Ladies that made $20Billion in real estate

Together, the country's top female-owned tycoons are worth nearly $ 20 billion, and each has taken a different path to becoming one of China's richest people. For some, real estate was a family business, while others started from the bottom and reached the top. Here is a brief introduction to these four multi-million dollar real estate. source 

Yang Huiyan -

Finishing 15th on China's rich list, Country Garden's Yang Huiyan was only behind Wang de Wanda and Xu Jiayin of Evergrande (Hui Ka-yan) among the country's real estate billionaires. She has a net worth of $ 7 billion. The 35-year-old woman serves as the developer's vice president and is also its largest shareholder after her father, Yang Guoqiang, transferred 70 percent of her properties to her in 2007, just before the inclusion of Country Garden in Hong Kong.

The Ohio State University student has been active in her father's company since 2005 when she joined the firm as a purchasing manager. She is married and, although not much is known about her husband, it was reported that the two met on a blind date. One of Country Garden's most notable projects is the $ 121 billion Forest City development in the Iskandar region of Malaysia.

Wu Yajun - Longfor Properties

Once known as the richest woman in China, an expensive divorce in 2012 saw Wu Yajun fall on the list. This year, the co-founder and president of Longfor Properties, which is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, is ranked 42nd on the Chinese Rich List and is the third-richest woman in the Chinese real estate industry with wealth net of $ 4 billion.

It's safe to say that Wu's trip to real estate was due more to chance than passion. She earned a degree from the Department of Navigation Engineering at Northwest China Polytechnic University. She then went on to work as an editor for a newspaper belonging to the Chongqing Municipal Government Construction Office before starting Chongqing Zhongjianke Real Estate, later renamed Longfor Properties, with her then-husband in 1995.

Zhang Xin 

Among China's best-known businesswomen Zhang Xin leads the Soho China property developer with her husband Pan Shiyi. Forbes places Zhang's net worth at $ 3.2 billion, which is good enough for 62nd place on the wealthy list. The only girl in the factory has become an entrepreneurial celebrity in recent years, but her high profile has not saved SOHO from the painful struggles in the country's changing property market. "She is super famous, and super beautiful " explain Kris an expat in China 
SOHO sold a commercial project in Pudong and listed three Shanghai office buildings for sale in 2016, as the company continues to miss revenue targets after a change from its previous strategy of building office properties to sell as individual units. to small investors.

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