Tencent is the leading social network and online games firm in China. (Photo : Imaginechina)
Tencent Holdings Limited claims the number title of being the most valuable brand in the country, according to “Hurun Most Valuable Chinese Brands 2015” released by Hurun Research Institute on Sept. 17.
Tencent provides mobile, telecom and Internet services. Its official website lists QQ (QQ Instant Messenger), WeChat, QQ.com, QQ Games, Qzone, 3g.QQ.com, SoSo, PaiPai and Tenpay as its Internet platforms.
Headquartered in Shenzhen in Guangdong, Ma Huateng (“Pony” Ma) and Zhang Zhidong (Tony Zhang), who were classmates at Shenzhen University, founded the investment holding company in Nov. 1998 in the Cayman Islands.
Hurun Institute compiled the 10 most valuable Chinese brands for 2015.
Taobao Marketplace of Jack Ma’s Alibaba Group comes second on the list. Launched in May 2003, Taobao is an online shopping site, China’s version of America’s Amazon and eBay. As of Sept. 28, it is the third most visited website in the country and the 11th in the world, according to California-based Web traffic data and analytics company, Alexa.
China Mobile Limited occupies the third place on the list. Founded in Hong Kong in Sept. 1997 and headquartered in Beijing, China Mobile offers voice and data services.
Baidu sits on the fourth spot. Headquartered in Beijing’s Haidian District, Li Yanhong (Robin Li) and Xu Yong (Eric Xu) founded the Internet services company in Jan. 2000.
Four banks dominate the list, namely, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (no. 5), China Construction Bank (no. 6), Bank of China (no. 7), and Agricultural Bank of China (no. 8). All are headquartered in Beijing’s Xicheng District.
Last two on the list are China Life Insurance Company (no. 9) and Chunghwa (no. 10).
Founded in 2003 with a head office in Xicheng District, China Life offers life and health insurance.
Chunghwa is one of the cigarette brands of Shanghai Tobacco (Group) Corporation. The state-owned company located in Shanghai’s Yangpu District was founded in 1993.
Luxembourg-born Rupert Hoogewerf (Chinese name: Hu Run) publishes the monthly magazine Hurun Report.
According to its official website, Hurun Report describes itself as the “foremost authority in tracking the rapid changes amongst China’s high net-worth individuals.”
Here is a quick look of the 10 companies that made it to “Hurun Most Valuable Chinese Brands 2015” and their respective brand values:
1. Tencent ($44.7 million)
2. Taobao ($42.9 million)
3. China Mobile ($42.7 million)
4. Baidu ($40.3 million)
5. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China ($36.6 million)
6. China Construction Bank ($29.8 million)
7. Bank of China ($25.2 million)
8. Agricultural Bank of China ($19.4 million)
9. China Life ($19 million)
10. Chunghwa ($16.5 million)
