Chu Shijian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chu Shijian
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| 褚时健 | |||||||||||
Chu Shijian in 1952
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| Born | 17 January 1928 Yuxi, Yunnan, China
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| Died | 5 March 2019 (aged 91) Yuxi, Yunnan, China
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| Occupation | Business executive, entrepreneur | ||||||||||
| Known for | Orange King Tobacco King |
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 褚時健 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 褚时健 | ||||||||||
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Chu Shijian (Chinese: 褚时健; 17 January 1928 – 5 March 2019) was a famous Chinese businessman. He was known as the "king of tobacco" and later the "king of oranges." He took a struggling cigarette factory and turned it into one of China's most successful government-owned companies. He made its Hongtashan cigarette brand very valuable. At its best, his company provided 60% of all money for the Yunnan provincial government.
Chu faced some legal challenges in 1996 and was sentenced to prison in 1999. However, he was released in 2002 due to health reasons. At 75 years old, he started a new business: an orange farm. His "Chu Orange" brand became famous across the country, earning him a new nickname. His amazing achievements and strong spirit made him one of China's most inspiring entrepreneurs.
Contents
Early Life and Challenges
Chu was born on 17 January 1928 in Yuxi, Yunnan, China. When he was young, he took part in the Chinese Communist Revolution. Later, during a time called the Anti-Rightist Campaign, he was wrongly accused of being a "rightist." He was not cleared until after the Cultural Revolution ended. Before his big career, he managed a sugar cane factory.
Career Highlights
Turning Around Yuxi Tobacco
In October 1979, Chu became the head of the Yuxi Cigarette Factory. This factory, which made the Hongtashan (Red Pagoda Hill) cigarettes, was almost out of business. It earned less than US$1 million a year.
Chu saw that China's economy was growing, and more people could buy cigarettes. He worked hard to promote the Hongtashan brand across the country. The brand quickly became popular, and people wanted more and more of it. Chu sold the cigarettes for more than their official price. He used the extra money to buy modern equipment and build new offices and homes for his workers.
By 1995, the company made over 100 billion cigarettes each year, but still couldn't keep up with demand. People who bought cigarettes in large amounts sometimes offered money to Chu and his family to get supplies of Hongtashan. Even though Yuxi Tobacco made a huge amount of money for the government during his 16 years there, Chu's own salary was very low. This led to him facing legal issues related to company funds. He was arrested in 1996 and later sentenced to prison. Many people in Yuxi still thought of him as a hero. His sentence was later reduced.
The Success of Chu Orange
While in prison, Chu developed diabetes. Because of his health, he was released in 2002. Even at 74 years old, he decided to start a new business: an orange farm.
In June 2003, he rented a large area of land in Xinping County and hired 300 workers. He used the same smart business ideas he had at Yuxi Tobacco. He focused on making high-quality products, not just a lot of them. He also made sure his workers' pay was connected to how well the company did. As his company grew, his employees earned much more than the average local wage. He used the internet to sell his "Chu Oranges" all over China. Wealthier customers were happy to pay more for his oranges because they were seen as healthy and safe. The company became very successful, selling 10,000 tons of oranges a year by 2013. He also turned his orange farm in the Ailao Mountains into a place for nature tourism. Chu, already known as the "tobacco king," became known as the "king of oranges" too.
On 17 January 2018, his 90th birthday, Chu appointed his son, Chu Yibin (褚一斌), as the main leader of Chu's Fruit Company Limited. Chu Shijian himself kept the title of chairman.
Death
Chu Shijian passed away on 5 March 2019, at Yuxi People's Hospital. He was 91 years old and died from problems related to diabetes.
