Zhang Lan

Zhang Lan was born in 1958 into a family with a complex historical background. Her father was a professor at Tsinghua University but suffered political difficulties, and her mother was sent to the countryside along with her stepfather during her childhood. From a young age, Zhang Lan took on household chores, and by the age of fifteen, she returned to Beijing with her indomitable spirit. After graduating from high school, she was specially recruited into the Beijing Municipal Light Industry Bureau due to her basketball talent, and later transferred to the Construction Bureau. In the late 1980s, she worked multiple jobs in Canada, exhausting her efforts to save enough funds to start her own business. In 1992, she returned to China to establish "Alan Restaurant," followed by the founding of Yu ci Seafood Large Restaurant in 1995, which thrived commercially. At the end of 1997, she sold the seafood restaurant for 66 million yuan, then created the high-end catering brand "Qiao Jiang Nan," which rapidly expanded across North China and other cities. In 2008, Qiao Jiang Nan became the sole designated Chinese catering service provider for the Beijing Olympics, increasing her influence further.

Alongside the fast-growing restaurant business, in 2011, she appointed her son, Wang Xiaofei, as CEO. However, due to obstacles in going public and issues with the financial chain, challenges began to emerge. In 2014, Zhang Lan sold most of her shares due to the introduction of investors, but ultimately faced difficulties stemming from complex relationships with capital partners and legal disputes, leading to her exit from Qiao Jiang Nan in 2018.

In 2019, she published her autobiography and subsequently founded Ma Liu Ji, which quickly gained popularity through live streaming and modern marketing approaches. By 2021, sales of Ma Liu Ji surged, with monthly revenues stabilizing between 25 million and 45 million yuan, gradually restoring Zhang Lan’s reputation in the business world. She is also actively involved in charity work, frequently participating in various fundraising activities.

Meanwhile, her family life remains of public interest. Her son, Wang Xiaofei, married actress Han Geng, making their family relationship public. Despite her impressive achievements in business, her career course has been tumultuous, marked by numerous legal disputes and public controversies. In her private life, she continuously updates her personal image through live broadcasts, openly sharing her health challenges and thoughts on the future. In recent years, Zhang Lan has been adjusting her strategies and gradually returning to the center of the business stage.