Woman tops rich list in China

Zhang Yin, 49, leapt to the number one spot the Hurun rich list after her company, Nine Dragons Paper, was listed in Hong Kong in March. Last year, she was ranked 36th.

Zhang made her fortune recycling scrap paper bought in from the United States and processed in China for the retail sector.

Described as a self-made woman, she is now richer than US TV presenter Oprah Winfrey and Britain's JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books.

She overtook Huang Guangyu, the founder of electronics retailer Gome, whose fortune is estimated at 2.5 billion dollars and who now ranks second.

The list was compiled by Shanghai-based accountant Rupert Hoogewerf, who found women were becoming increasingly visible among China's rich set.

There were 35 women in the top-500 list, which Hoogewerf said was a "dramatic" change.

Other top women include metal trader Chen Ningning in 20th place with a fortune estimated at 800 million dollars, and Beijing property developer Chen Lihua, whose 750 million dollars put her in 25th place.