Zhang Congyuan built his fortune through decades in footwear manufacturing and the creation of Huali Industrial Group, which became a major supplier to global athletic and casual footwear brands. [1][2]
Decades in footwear preceded Huali's rise
Huali's 2025 annual report says Zhang has more than 50 years of footwear-manufacturing experience, establishing a long operating career before the current listed company reached scale. [2]
The same filing identifies Zhang as Huali Group's founder and chairman, while Forbes says he founded the business in 2004 after earlier experience in footwear manufacturing. [2][1]
Forbes also notes that Zhang previously cofounded Symphony Holdings and later sold his stake, showing that his wealth path came from repeated entrepreneurial activity in footwear rather than inheritance of a family industrial group. [1]
Global manufacturing scale created the fortune
Huali now manufactures for major international brands and operates plants across several countries, giving the company a diversified production network that is much broader than a single domestic factory. [2]
Zhang's fortune is therefore primarily founder-created through operating expertise, retained control and expansion in footwear manufacturing. The reviewed sources do not identify a substantial inherited business or fortune as his starting base. [1][2]
Sources for background
Sources reviewed Sep 24, 2026.
- Zhang Congyuan · Forbes · Jun 10, 2026
- 2025 Annual Report · Huali Industrial Group · Apr 10, 2026
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