The foundation of Zhang Xin’s career began in 1995 with the co-founding of SOHO China, an enterprise that grew into a dominant force in Beijing’s commercial real estate market. Navigating finance roles in Hong Kong and New York, she transitioned from institutional banking to pioneering large-scale development projects before eventually shifting her focus toward international property investments.
Early Development and Academic Path
Born in Beijing in 1965, Zhang moved to Hong Kong at age 15. She financed her relocation to the United Kingdom through years of factory work. In the UK, she studied at a secretarial school in Oxford before earning a bachelor’s degree in economics at the University of Sussex. In 1992, she completed a master’s degree in development economics at the University of Cambridge, writing her thesis on the privatization of the Chinese economy.
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Zhang joined Barings Bank in 1992 to leverage her academic research on Chinese privatization. Following the bank's acquisition by Goldman Sachs in 1993, she relocated to New York to manage public stock offerings for Chinese manufacturing firms. In 1994, she returned to Beijing, where she began property development projects. By 1995, she co-founded Hongshi, later renamed SOHO China. The firm achieved prominence through projects such as the Commune by the Great Wall and the development of major office complexes that redefined Beijing’s skyline.
Global Expansion and Divestment
Starting in the 2010s, Zhang transitioned SOHO China’s operational model from selling properties to long-term leasing. Simultaneously, she diversified her interests internationally, establishing Closer Properties in 2008 and the family office Seven Valleys—now Closer Group—in 2015. In 2022, she resigned from her leadership position at SOHO China following the relocation of her primary business operations to the United States.
Philanthropy and Affiliations
In 2014, Zhang launched the SOHO China Scholarships, a $100 million initiative aimed at supporting disadvantaged Chinese students at international universities, including Harvard, Yale, and the University of Chicago. Her professional associations include membership in the World Economic Forum, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Asia Business Council. In 2013, the University of Sussex awarded her an honorary doctorate.
Fast facts
- Born: 1965, Beijing
- Education: University of Sussex; University of Cambridge (1992)
- Former Employers: Goldman Sachs, Barings Bank, Citigroup
- Religion: Baháʼí Faith
- Key Business: SOHO China
- Language: Chinese
- Resigned from SOHO China: 2022
Questions readers ask
What is Zhang Xin's educational background?
She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Sussex and a master's degree in development economics from the University of Cambridge.
Did Zhang Xin continue her career in China after 2022?
No, she resigned from her roles at SOHO China in September 2022 and moved her business activities to the United States.
Achievements
- Affiliated with Barings Bank, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup
- Educated at University of Sussex and University of Cambridge
