Zhang Yuliang

Zhang Yuliang is the founder of Greenland Holdings Corporation Limited and formerly served as the group’s chairman. According to a Caixin report in July 2014, Greenland Holdings, whose growth had accelerated in recent years, was regarded as the biggest competitor capable of dislodging Vanke from its position as number one in the industry, and Zhang Yuliang, then chairman of Greenland, had earlier said in an interview that overtaking the industry leader was “just a matter of one or two projects”.

According to sales data for property developers in the first half of 2014 compiled by CRIC Information Group, Vanke ranked first in sales with 101.8 billion yuan, Greenland second with 83 billion yuan, and Evergrande third with 71.4 billion yuan.