China is one of the fastest-growing countries in the world and has developed rapidly in the past decade. The real estate market has also increased immensely, bringing wealth to locals who decided to invest early.
If you’re a foreigner and plan to buy property in China, you might want to buy an off-plan, or a new unit directly from a developer. Or maybe it’s just good to know more about the developer who built that newly finished building.
In this article, I’ve listed some of the biggest residential property developers in China.
1. Vanke
Founded in 1984, Vanke is one of the largest property developers in China with its head office located in Shenzhen, China.
Worth mentioning is that Vanke is also included in the 2017 “Fortune Global 500” companies.
In addition to building 1800 residential projects in more than 60 Chinese cities in the last three decades, it’s engaged in different residential and commercial projects in Malaysia, UK, the United States, and Hong Kong.
Vanke has been ranked as one of the top three property developers for a number of consecutive years, with tens of billions of dollars in earnings each year, proving that it’s a big player in the industry.
Property types
Vanke is known for building huge residential projects, including both large townships with residential homes and land, and high-rise apartment buildings. They also develop mixed-use projects that can be used for both commercial and residential purposes.
Current projects
- Vanke Egret County in Guangzhou City
- Vanke Enjoy Home
- Vanke Spring Ten
- Vanke Mountain View
Future projects
- Vanke Future Town in Xuzhou
- Vanke Jade Lane in Fuzhou Cangshan District
- Vanke Cloud City in Cangshan District
- Vanke Shangcheng in Guangzhou City
You can find upcoming projects from Vanke in almost all major cities in China.
Prices & areas
a. The price of an apartment in the Vanke Enjoy Home is around USD 3,400 per square meter
b. The price of an apartment in the Light of the City in Yangzhou City is around USD 2,000 per square meter
c. The price of an apartment in the Vanke Fifth Park in Yangzhou City is around USD 4,000 per square meter
2. Greentown China Holdings
Founded in 1995, Greentown China Holdings is one of the top real estate developers in China, currently based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. The current Chairman is Mr. Song Weiping.
It’s the largest developer in the Zhejiang province, but also develops residential projects in a number of other places like Beijing, Shanghai and more.
The company owns a number of different subsidiaries all working in the real estate industry, some well-known are: Greentown Real Estate Group, Greentown Asset Group, Greentown Town Group and Greentown Management Group.
Property types
Greentown China builds all kinds of residential and other properties, for example, they build high-rise apartments under the Greentown Real Estate Group subsidiary. Other properties include townships with detached houses and other types of homes are developed under their Greentown Town Group subsidiary.
So far, they’ve developed around 24 small towns around the country.
Current projects
- Beijing Xanshan
- Hanian Greentown Blue
- Zhengzhou Yanming Lake Rose Garden
Future projects
- Greentown Xixi Project
Prices & areas
a. The price of an apartment in the Beijing Xanshan Yanlu is around USD 10,000 per square meter
b. The price of an apartment in the Hainan Greentown Blue Bay is around USD 4,000 per square meter
3. Evergrande Real Estate Group
Evergrande Group, founded in 1996, became the largest property developer in China during a time period of just two decades. The China Evergrande Group of Shenzhen is owned by Hui Ka Yan, who’s ranked as the richest man in China.
In 2016, Evergrande Group ranked as the largest property developer in China with an estimated earnings of $55 billion in a year, a bit more than Vanke mentioned above.
It owns many subsidiaries working in real estate, finance, and health sectors while many of the subsidiaries are listed on the Fortune 500 list. Evergrande Group currently employs more than 120,000 people which speaks for itself.
In total, they’ve completed 800 projects so far in 280 cities.
Property types
Most of their projects are high-rise apartment projects, but you can also find townships and large residential projects
Current projects
- Handan Hengda Jade Court
- Handan Hengda Long Court
- Guilin Evergrande City
- Beihai Hengda Sea God King
- Changde Pixian Hengda Bay
Future projects
- Nanning Hengda Oasis
- Lizhou Hengda Royal Bay
They’ve current and upcoming projects in 170 countries in China.
4. Country Garden
Founded in 1992, County Garden is one of the largest property developers in China and headquartered in Foshan, Guangdong.
Country Garden is owned by one of the richest families in China, the Keung Family, and currently employs more than 70,000 people. The co-owner and daughter of the founder Yeung Kwok Keung, Yang Huiyan, is one of the richest people in China and one of the richest women in Asia.
The company owns a multiple of subsidiaries operating in China and has developed residential and commercial projects in Australia, Malaysia, China, and Indonesia.
Country Garden is ranked as one of the largest property developer in China with earnings of tens of billions of dollars. In 2017, it climbed to the top position as the largest real estate developer with sales of $89.3 billion.
They’ve sold properties to around two million people so far, which is impressive.
Property types
The company is mainly known for its high-end township projects in China, Malaysia, and Australia. They also develop high-rise apartments, hotels, and commercial/industrial projects.
Current properties
- Country Garden Long Yue
- Country Garden Cyan International
- Tianlu House
- Country Garden Telford Washington
- Jiangshan Yipin
Future properties
- Country Garden Forest City
- German Letter Country Garden Nine House
5. Greenland Group
Founded in 1992, Greenland Group is a state owned real estate developer in China. The headquarter is located in Shanghai and its main purpose was to develop the green belts in Shanghai. But in the last two decades, Greenland Group evolved into one of the largest property developers in China.
In addition to China, the company builds property in the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, Germany and Canada. It also owns a number of subsidiaries working in different industries and countries.
Property types
The Greenland Group develops residential, commercial, industrial and leisure properties in China, and other parts of the world. They’re also known for building massive high-rise apartment projects like the Dalian Greenland Center and Nanjing Greenland Center.
You can also find both townhouses and apartments to invest in.
Current projects
- Greenland Hysun
- Greenland William apartments
- Greenland sisley residence
- Greenland oriental villa
- Greenland cloudy metropolis
Future projects
They have many upcoming projects in different cities in China, along with projects in Los Angeles and London.
6. China Resources Land
China Resources Land Limited is another big property developer in China founded in 1994, the head office is situated in Shenzhen.
It’s a subsidiary and real estate arm of the state-owned China Resources Group, owning multiple subsidiaries, all working in the real estate sector.
China resources Land currently employs more than 31,000 people, which is not a modest figure, compared to many large foreign companies.
Property types
They develop all types of property, including hotels, commercial, residential and industrial projects. Their residential projects include both apartments and townships. They’re known for their mega projects with thousands of homes and apartments in each project.
Current projects
- Oak Bay
- Phoenix City
- The Bund Side
- Jade City
- Hefei French Annecy
Future projects
- Beijing Oak Bay
- Shanghai Central Park
- Ningbo Tuscany Lake
7. Longfor Properties
Longfor Properties Co. Ltd. is one of the largest real estate developers in China in terms of sales revenue. It’s also the fastest-growing developer in the country, impressively, the sales revenue almost doubled in 2017.
Longfor Properties is based in Beijing and founded in 1993. They’ve developed more than 217 real estate projects in 36 Chinese cities so far and owns a number of different subsidiaries working in the real estate sector and other related fields.
The co-founder and CEO of Longfor Properties is Wu Yajun, who was once the richest woman in China. She was also listed in the most powerful women in the world list by Forbes for several years.
The company currently employs around 20,000 people.
Property types
Longfor mainly develops residential projects, both townships, and apartments, but you can also find commercial projects and shopping malls if you want to invest in commercial properties.
Current projects
- Jinan Spring River Tan City
- Chongqing Jiuli Riverside
- Chongqing Shun Hill House
- Jinan Yue Ming tea
- Shenyang West House Original
Future projects
- Chengdu Xicheng
- Chongqing Two Rivers Xin Chen
- Guangzhou Tianchen
8. Sunac China Holdings
Sunac China Holdings was founded in 2003, which makes it the youngest real estate developer on our list, but still one of the largest in China. Sunac China is ranked as one of the top five largest property developers in China.
Sunac China Holdings is owned by Sun Hongbin, one of the richest people in China, a US citizen of Chinese origin. The head office of Sunac China is based in Tianjin.
Property types
They’re mostly known for their high-end and large-scale residential projects. Most of their projects are townships, but you can also find high-rise apartment projects.
Current projects
- One Sino Park
- Central One Park
- Suzhou Peach Blossom
- Top Skyline
- Long Beach Mansion
Future projects
- Jin Mao Palace
- The Times
- Wealth Mansion
- Park No. 1 in Wuhan
9. Dalian Wanda Group
The Dalian Wanda Group is ranked among the world’s largest commercial real estate developers. The group is owned by Wang Jianlin, who is ranked as one of the top five richest people in China.
Wanda Group was founded in 1988 and based in the capital, Beijing. They’re a global company with projects all over the world and owns the world’s largest Cinema chain known as Wanda Cinemas, along with AMC Theatre and Hoyt’s Group.
Dalian Wanda Group is also listed in the Fortune Global 500 List and has reported annual revenues of tens of billions of dollars.
Property types
They develop commercial properties, cinemas, hotels, plazas, shopping malls, sports complexes, and other similar property types but they don’t develop residential projects.
You can find hundreds of commercial projects by Wanda Group in China to invest in.
Current Projects
- More than hundred Wanda Plazas in 29 different cities
- 102 Wanda Hotels in China and other countries
Future projects
a. Upcoming 8 Wanda Hotels in China, UK, US, Australia, Turkey, and France
b. Upcoming Wanda Plazas in different Chinese cities
10. Poly Real Estate Group
Poly Real Estate Group Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of the state-owned China Poly Group and ranked as one of the biggest real estate developers.
The real estate developer was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Guangzhou. China Poly Group also has many other subsidiaries working in China, Hong Kong, and many other countries.
Property types
Poly Real Estate develops all types of properties, including residential, commercial, hotels, and retirement homes.
I hope that you found this article interesting. I also recommend you to read my complete guide that explains how you can buy property in China as a foreigner.
AsiapropertyHQ.com is not licensed to deal with any property situated in Hong Kong. We are not an estate agent or salesperson.
great analysis
Thanks!
Really good article.
Very useful, they also try to go oversea, like in Asia. Malaysia is great place for Chinese developper.