Shelley Tsang
Building a legacy of passion, purpose, progress, innovation and cooperation.
Forging interdisciplinary,
lifelong intellectual
leadership
Shelley Tsang's intellectual leadership is rooted in a cognitive dimension that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. She perceives the quintessential achievements of human civilisation — commercial rationality, scientific precision, artistic sensibility, and humanistic depth — not as isolated domains but as an integrated cognitive matrix. She is never content with superficial acquaintance; instead, she delves into their underlying principles, systematically internalising them to forge a unique wisdom for deconstructing complexity. This enables her to navigate seamlessly between disparate fields — geopolitics, business strategy, cultural heritage preservation — and pinpoint the core of global challenges. Her exceptional ability lies in reframing the logic of complex systems from their foundations, allowing innovation to flourish at the intersections of knowledge. This culminates in a higher-dimensional strategic intuition that yields solutions both visionary and actionable.
Shelley Tsang's quest for knowledge began with a rare acuity of mind. At seventeen, her exceptional cognitive abilities earned her a place as one of the youngest members of Mensa — an early signpost on a relentless intellectual odyssey to expand the boundaries of her talent. She has systematically navigated diverse academic realms: from the University of Hong Kong, a beacon of Eastern and Western civilisation, to the case-study crucible of Harvard Business School, and the public policy heights of Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government. Her pursuits have ranged from the microscopic universe of gemmology at the Gemological Institute of America to the macroeconomic vistas of the global economy at the World Bank Group, and to the frontiers of life sciences at Harvard Medical School. Through this rigorous synthesis of study and practice, she has mastered and integrated the conceptual tools of the humanities, business, policy, and science, ultimately constructing a sophisticated, multi-dimensional framework for understanding the world.
Shelley Tsang’s true distinction lies in her grasp of the underlying architecture connecting pluralistic knowledge—a profound insight rooted in humanistic and artistic cultivation. To her, the rational patterns of business data, the ordered lattice of gem crystals, the intricate counterpoint of a Bach fugue, and the narrative interplay of light in photography all obey a universal principle of order and harmony. Her long immersion in the nuances of keyboard music has cultivated a polyphonic intelligence and a refined sensitivity to complex systems. An epic Grand Tour across Eurasia, begun at age twenty, endowed her with a geologist’s eye for parsing historical strata and civilisational accumulation. From decoding the ecological patterns beneath the Siberian aurora and interpreting the belief-scapes along Wutai Mountain’s ridges, to systematically charting an urban civilisation genealogy drawn from travels through forty-plus countries, these years of deep fieldwork crystallised into a unique three-dimensional framework: Ecology, Heritage, and Urban Anthropology. This framework serves as her distinctive lens for interpreting civilisation and environment. Art gives her the warmth to perceive the world; science provides the tools to analyse it; and global, on-the-ground practice accumulates irreplaceable local insight. The fusion of these three forges her ability to penetrate appearances and grasp essential truths.
Shelley Tsang embodies the very essence of intellectual leadership, which transcends mere knowledge accumulation. It is the ability to weave insights from disparate domains into strategic foresight. Rooted in a pluralistic understanding of our time, this foresight allows her interdisciplinary thinking to blossom into tangible solutions — the flowers and fruits that address real-world challenges. In an age where artificial intelligence attempts to deconstruct everything, she instead affirms the breadth and depth of human intelligence—that unique spark of connection, empathy, and integration. Shelley Tsang stands as a testament to the fact that genuine lifelong learning is the synchronous advancement of intellect, aesthetics, and action, ultimately refined into a more complete individual, one capable of responding to the most profound questions posed by our complex world.
Contributing to global governance and advancing national strategic priorities
Shelley Tsang's engagement with global governance commenced at the inaugural Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in May 2017. By participating in this landmark gathering—which convened representatives from over 140 countries, including 29 heads of state—she effectively entered the world stage, elevating her role to that of a contributor to international governance structures.
Her engagement deepened the following year. In September 2018, she represented Chinese business at the United Nations (UN) Global Compact Leaders Summit and the UN Private Sector Forum, convened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. There, she engaged in closed-door consultations with heads of state and senior UN officials on issues of business and peace. That same year, coinciding with the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Spain, Tsang launched the "Spain-China Cooperation Initiative," officially kickstarting the program alongside Spanish Ambassador to China Alberto Carnero at the Ambassador's residence in Beijing, a move that significantly fostered bilateral ties.
In September 2020, on the historic occasion of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, Shelley Tsang, representing SIG Group Holding, signed the Statement by Business Leaders for Renewed Global Cooperation, an initiative of the UN Global Compact. The statement consolidated the consensus of over 1,200 business leaders from more than 100 countries, demonstrating the international business community's firm support for the UN and inclusive multilateralism, and was formally presented to the UN Secretary-General as a key document at the UN Private Sector Forum. Within this global initiative, Shelley Tsang stood among the representatives from only approximately 30 Chinese enterprises worldwide — a clear testament to her profound strategic foresight. Signing this statement signified a strategic elevation of her advocacy, marking a transition from focusing on corporate sustainability to actively engaging in and helping to shape the global governance architecture, thereby fully demonstrating the global vision and leadership stature she commands as a business leader.
Her role expanded significantly in December 2021 upon her appointment as Vice Director and Secretary-General for the Greater Bay Area and Global Operations of the China New Urbanisation Construction Steering Committee. This committee—jointly initiated by national-level financial institutions and key state-owned enterprises, and legally established with the approval of the Hong Kong SAR Government—is dedicated to advancing regional coordinated development. It is tasked with building a full-cycle solution system that spans policy research, financial support, industry introduction, and technology commercialisation. A key innovation is its dual-hub operational mechanism: a Beijing hub focused on alignment with central government policies and local implementation, and a Hong Kong hub that leverages its status as a global financial centre for cross-border capital and resource coordination. This appointment establishes Tsang at the pivotal nexus connecting national top-level planning with market practice. It demonstrates her capability to be instrumental in translating macroscopic blueprints into tangible momentum, thereby constructing a strategic platform for global partners to facilitate their deep immersion in China's future development trajectory.
By October 2023, her focus had evolved from participation to contribution. By a special invitation of the UN Global Compact, Tsang attended the high-level meeting "Sustainable Infrastructure for the Belt and Road Initiative" in Beijing, witnessing the launch of five key outcomes, including the first-ever UN online knowledge hub for corporate practices related to the Belt and Road and the SDGs. UN Assistant Secretary-General Sanda Ojiambo emphasised that the Belt and Road Initiatives, through over 3,000 projects and nearly one trillion USD in investment over a decade, had become a global cooperation paradigm. From this new starting point, Tsang's focus evolved strategically from participating in global initiatives to contributing Chinese solutions. She began systematically collaborating with domestic and international think tanks to integrate Chinese development experiences, such as rural revitalisation and cultural heritage protection, into localised ESG indicator systems for promotion through UN platforms.
This transition was further evidenced in March 2025 at the Boao Forum for Asia Partners Conference, which highlighted the evolving role of Chinese leaders as co-architects of international norms. The event gathered approximately 500 government officials, global industry leaders, and key members of international organisations to explore sustainable development paths for various industries, closely aligning with the opening goals of the Hainan Free Trade Port in the year of its customs closure. This engagement underscored the transition of leading Chinese enterprises from respondents to international rules to co-architects of global governance, reinforcing Boao's value as an international platform and its role in fostering Asia-Pacific economic cooperation.
In September 2025, upon the personal invitation of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Chairman Philippe Varin, Tsang participated in a high-level meeting focused on COP30, engaging in an in-depth dialogue with Laurent Fabius, former French Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, and a key architect of the Paris Agreement. The ICC, encompassing 45 million businesses in 130 countries, is the world's largest and most representative business organisation. This exclusive meeting, limited to around 150 key global decision-makers, reflected the ICC's high recognition of Tsang's achievements in integrating global business with climate action.
Standing at the historical juncture of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations in 2025, and guided by the philosophy of "walking with the wise, dancing with the rules," Shelley Tsang's journey exemplifies the permeation of global governance concepts into practical action. Her practice clearly outlines an ascending trajectory from participating in global governance to contributing public goods, serving as a microcosm of the evolution from commercial success to social value creation, and ultimately to becoming a proposer and leader in global governance initiatives. In an uncertain world, the pragmatic integration of Chinese wisdom and cooperative action embodied by Tsang continues to inject stable and potent Eastern energy into improving global governance and advancing the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
A distinguished heritage continues to nourish the contemporary vision
Shelley Tsang is a 75th-generation descendant of the renowned Confucian sage Zengzi, hailing from the prestigious Quanzhou Longshan Zeng Clan of Fujian Province. This Clan was a distinguished lineage particularly prominent during the Tang and Song dynasties, achieving an exceptional political milestone in the Song Dynasty known as "four chief ministers from one family" (Zeng Gongliang, Zeng Xiaokuan, Zeng Huai, Zeng Conglong), earning the contemporary accolade of "the Zengs comprising half the court." The Clan’s scholarly achievements were equally extraordinary, yielding twenty-seven jinshi (imperial examination graduates) during the Song Dynasty, including top-ranked scholars. This profound heritage, exemplified by works such as Zeng Gongliang's Wujing Zongyao (Complete Essentials for the Military Classics) and grounded in the Confucian ideal of "cultivating oneself, regulating the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to all under heaven," formed the enduring ethos that has sustained the clan's legacy for a millennium.
Born in Hong Kong, Shelley Tsang spent her formative years in a traditional courtyard residence nestled south of Zhongnanhai in Beijing. More than a childhood home, it served as a unique portal during an era of opening up. In the early years of China's Open Door Policy period during the 1980s, it was entrusted by the State Council to host over 3,000 international guests, becoming a vibrant cultural salon connecting China with the world. Her family life was also featured in a documentary broadcast in Europe, offering international audiences a window into the blend of traditional and modern Chinese life. This exceptional environment, combined with her family's deep engagement in global business, government, military, and academic spheres, provided the foundation for her own broad strategic perspective and robust international network. In 2019, a family elder was honoured with the Commemorative Medal for the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, issued jointly by the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, in recognition of their contributions and unwavering commitment.
Shelley Tsang carries this millennial legacy forward as what she terms a boundary-crossing builder, a weaver of influence, and an architect of the future. For her, the essence of heritage is innovation, not mere preservation; the vitality of resources lies in their circulation, not just possession. She defines true leadership as being a value-enhancer and key enabler, dedicated to pioneering, transdisciplinary innovation. Her deepest satisfaction comes from catalysing tangible change through hands-on creation and integration: helping entrepreneurs build social innovation paradigms, paving the way for sustainable careers for youth, supporting scientists tackling global challenges, and empowering artists to foster civilisational dialogue. For partners committed to building enduring enterprises, she strives to be their ideal long-termist partner. Leveraging a profound understanding of historical cycles, she works with them to identify and invest in assets capable of transcending time and being passed on to future generations.
Fostering a multi-dimensional ecosystem for international think tank networks
Through founding and systematically integrating four international institutions—the Gaudí Research Centre, the International Castles and Palaces Society, the Southeast Asia Cultural Hub, and UNU - Zero Emissions Research & Initiatives (China) — Shelley Tsang has established a distinctive think tank ecosystem with cultural heritage preservation and sustainable development at its core. This ecosystem operates throughout the entire "policy-industry-academia-research-application" value chain, driving deep integration between academic research, education, and innovative practice to form a unique, multi-dimensional intellectual network.
The Gaudí Research Centre, founded by Shelley Tsang, evolved from the Gaudí Asia-Pacific Institute (established in 2016) and was restructured in 2023. It is dedicated to promoting the design philosophy and cultural legacy of architectural master Antoni Gaudí worldwide. Key initiatives include co-organising the 2nd Gaudí World Congress (Shanghai, 2016) to foster Sino-Western architectural dialogue; participating in the revitalisation of ancient Yellow River villages in Shandong (2017), promoting ecological and cultural synergy across 120,000 km²; and contributing to the 2nd China National Conference on Historic Villages to advance the integration of traditional settlements with modern civilisation. In 2018, she co-established China’s first Gaudí-themed leisure park within Chengdu’s urban greenway, integrating his architectural wisdom into public space to create an inclusive cultural landmark that demonstrates how cultural heritage enriches contemporary life.
Shelley Tsang's journey as a guardian of culture began in the shadow of the vermilion walls of the Forbidden City, where ancient bricks and tiles whispered their stories of six hundred seasons, planting the seeds of civilisation deep within her. Her childhood was spent in a historic courtyard residence—more than a home, it was a vibrant cultural salon of 1980s China, opening its doors to the world. The longevity cranes on the spirit wall and the family mottos carved into wooden plaques were her first tutors in architecture, humanity, and purpose. In 2017, this profound sense of stewardship led her to found the International Castles and Palaces Society. Through it, she fosters a dialogue between Eastern wisdom and global heritage, enabling the roof tiles of the Forbidden City to converse with the golden domes of Versailles, and illuminating the path to preserving European castles with the harmonious principles of the Siheyuan courtyard.
Building upon her family’s century-old legacy in the modernised rice industry in Indonesia, Shelley Tsang expanded her vision to encompass Southeast Asia, viewing the region as a vital source of inspiration for civilisational dialogue, industrial innovation, and sustainable development. In 2019, she founded the Southeast Asia Cultural Hub, dedicated to weaving together the diverse cultural threads of the region’s ethnicities, religions, and geographies, and showcasing the region’s cultural treasures to the world. In August 2023, during the China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week, she launched the China-ASEAN High-Level Youth Talent Exchange Platform on the sidelines of the ministerial-level meeting between China's Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng and his counterparts, the ministers of education from the ten ASEAN countries. In partnership with the China New Urbanisation Construction Steering Committee and supported by a dedicated fund of RMB 200 million, the platform promotes educational empowerment, skills integration, and STEM initiatives for women, cultivating a new generation of Southeast Asian youth to become leaders in regional development.
Since 2020, Shelley Tsang has been an active member of the UNU Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives (ZERI) network, founding its China chapter. She collaborates with Professor Gunter Pauli, founder of ZERI, often called the "Steve Jobs of sustainability," to systematically advance the Blue Economy philosophy and practice throughout China. Inspired by the foresight of Dr Aurelio Peccei, founder of the Club of Rome, and his seminal work The Limits to Growth, Tsang has built an integrated "government-industry-academia-research-application" model. This framework effectively consolidates top-tier national resources to create a seamless pathway from innovation to industrial application. In a significant milestone, she was awarded a special "Glacier Protection Certificate" by twelve international organisations—including UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organisation—on World Water Day in March 2025. The award recognises her leadership in integrating innovative environmental technologies to protect the vital resources that sustain 3.7 billion people, cementing her role as a critical driver of global sustainable development.
Through her role in spearheading four international institutions, Shelley Tsang has cultivated a unique and distinctive, multi-dimensional global think tank ecosystem. These institutions receive strong support from China's Ministry of Education and engage in deep collaboration with its High-Level International Talent Cultivation and Innovation Programme, forming an intellectual resource network covering nearly 400 universities worldwide and benefiting 450,000 faculty and students, all dedicated to nurturing future leaders with global competence. Over the past three years, Tsang has successfully facilitated practical internships within the United Nations system for more than 500 Chinese youth. Through hands-on experience gained at international conferences and field research, these individuals continue to strengthen their capabilities while collectively enhancing global collaborative networks. These concrete achievements vividly demonstrate a distinctive Chinese approach to participating in global governance — one that forges civilisational consensus through cultural heritage, drives sustainable progress through technological innovation, and, guided by the principle of unifying knowledge and action, contributes Eastern wisdom toward building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Championing innovative cultural dialogue and
cross-sector collaboration
Shelley Tsang operates as a curator of civilisation with a future-oriented vision. She astutely draws from the treasure trove of human heritage, masterfully integrating Eastern wisdom with Western inspiration and juxtaposing ancient legacy with cutting-edge technology. Under her guidance, cultural exchange transcends formalism to become a solid bridge for genuine international understanding and trust. She curates not a transient exhibition but a sustainable and inspiring new mode of civilisational coexistence, built through an innovative perspective. Tsang's actions embody a core principle: the essence of cultural interaction is never a one-way display but rather a process of mutual enlightenment and co-creation. She demonstrates that meaningful cultural exchange achieves spiritual resonance, showcases historical treasures, and, crucially, facilitates sophisticated dialogue on global challenges that galvanise sincere collective effort and profound empathy for the future.
Shelley Tsang's journey as a practitioner of civilisational dialogue began with fifteen years of dedicated intellectual cultivation. Starting in 2009, serving as a Translator and Language Coordinator for TED, she systematically translated global frontier ideas for Chinese audiences and worked to build a common context and standards for cross-cultural narratives. This role constituted far more than linguistic translation; it was a profound, long-term apprenticeship in the craft of narrative and consensus-building. The disciplined process of capturing a speaker's spark and conveying its essence across linguistic boundaries honed her ability to transform complex concepts into compelling expressions that catalyse cross-cultural collaboration. This foundational experience instilled in her a keen intuition for effective storytelling, which became the bedrock for her later work: orchestrating high-level academic forums, creating the world's first Gaudí Digital Museum, and advancing cultural dialogue on UN platforms. In essence, Tsang's cross-disciplinary practice is rooted in building bridges for ideas.
In 2012, Shelley Tsang founded SIGNATURE Fine Arts in Beijing's Central Government District on West Chang'an Avenue. Her early influence was marked by an invitation from the Ministry of Culture's Art Market Department to participate in closed-door discussions during the drafting phase of the Art Market Management Regulations, demonstrating her foresight regarding industry standards. Under Tsang's leadership, SIGNATURE Fine Arts transcended the traditional gallery exhibition model, curating high-quality art projects distinguished by academic depth and an international perspective. This approach earned it a place in the prestigious Beijing Gallery Week and a recommendation in the Beijing Gallery Map, steadily building its cross-disciplinary influence. Consequently, SIGNATURE Fine Arts became a cultural hub that stimulated intellectual discourse and catalysed collaboration, forming an innovative network spanning art, design, technology, and heritage preservation. This phase of practice laid a solid foundation for her later development of grander platforms for civilisational dialogue.
In 2013, SIGNATURE Fine Arts co-organised a large-scale Paris Mid-Autumn Festival event with the government of the 13th Arrondissement of Paris. The event received extensive coverage from China Central Television (CCTV) and major Parisian media, showcasing the organisation's international event-planning capabilities. The year 2014, marking the 50th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations, provided a strategic platform for Shelley Tsang to deepen her practice of international cultural diplomacy. In France, she orchestrated a high-level academic symposium on Chinese culture at the world-renowned Sciences Po, often called the 'cradle of presidents'. This event was the university's first of its kind. She further hosted prestigious cultural exchanges at Paris's Musée Cernuschi—one of Europe's top five Asian art museums—and at the official China Cultural Centre, which garnered feature coverage from China's State Council Information Office. In a corresponding effort in China, she assisted the National Museum of China in securing sponsorship for the prestigious French national treasure exhibition, while also sponsoring academic exchanges at Tsinghua University featuring Vanessa Badre, an art historian and the wife of the former Chief Financial Officer of the World Bank Group. This series of high-level, cross-sector initiatives rapidly forged a robust international network spanning elite academia, major museums, and high-value resources, decisively establishing Tsang's role as a pivotal force in international cultural exchange.
Shelley Tsang's transdisciplinary practice transcends geographical boundaries to systematically dismantle the traditional barriers between art and technology. In 2018, she spearheaded the creation of the world's first Gaudí Digital Museum in partnership with tech giant Baidu, using digital innovation to reinterpret UNESCO World Heritage architecture. As the first large-scale digitalisation project focusing on Catholic cultural heritage in the People's Republic of China, Tsang formally presented it to the Vatican in a tribute to His Holiness Pope Francis. The project achieved a dual breakthrough: it reached over two billion Chinese users, gained official recognition from the Holy See, received endorsements from Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and was featured by CCTV and People's Daily, thereby solidifying its impact in both international cultural dialogue and domestic mainstream communication.
In 2019, Shelley Tsang launched the groundbreaking AI art project, Walking with the Masters. Supported by core AI technologies from Baidu Brain and integrated with mobile devices like the Baidu WiFi Translator, the project fostered a deep dialogue between art and algorithm. It created an immersive, on-site experience: while visiting architectural sites, participants could engage in real-time conversations with an AI to analyse the master's creative thinking, accompanied by voice reconstruction technology that delivered interpretations in the master's own tone, facilitating a profound dialogue across time. Officially unveiled at Baidu World Congress, the project's promotional video amassed over 13 million views within 24 hours, sparking more than 20,000 online discussions. Xinhua News Agency featured it as an "exemplary model of technology and humanities integration," affirming its significant social resonance and national-level impact while demonstrating the boundless possibilities of transdisciplinary fusion between art and technology.
In 2020, as a Strategic Advisor to Baidu Baike Digital Museum, Shelley Tsang pioneered an innovative upgrade in cultural dissemination by co-creating the live-streaming series Civilisation on the Move. The inaugural season, broadcast from Barcelona, Spain, offered real-time virtual tours of UNESCO World Heritage sites like Casa Vicens and the Barcelona Wax Museum. The two episodes attracted a cumulative viewership of nearly 1.5 million, using technology to break temporal and spatial constraints and realise a "cloud-based pilgrimage" to cultural sites. This practice of leveraging technology for public accessibility embodies Tsang's innovative approach to advancing the mission of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), concretely supporting the evolution of museums from institutions of collection to platforms for public education and cross-cultural dialogue. The project was highly acclaimed as another significant practice in digital heritage dissemination by Tsang and her team, fulfilling her pledge to "bring world culture to Chinese audiences." By inspiring deeper public reflection on civilisational diversity and humanistic values in an intuitive and vivid manner, it further broadened and deepened the scope of cultural dialogue in the digital age.
As a globally recognised collector grounded in Eastern cultural heritage and international vision, Shelley Tsang has established a comprehensive ecosystem spanning high-end acquisitions, academic exchange, and pivotal market influence. As an Art Basel VIP, she maintains deep collaborations with over fifty leading international blue-chip and pioneering galleries. She is not only active at the academic forefront of institutions that shape art history, such as the Venice Biennale and Documenta in Kassel, but also deeply engaged with core platforms that drive the global art market, including the Art Basel fairs (Basel, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, Paris), The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF), and Frieze art fairs, continuously strengthening her international influence. In a landmark 2020 initiative, she curated Literati Elegance: An Exhibition of Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Casa Batlló. This pioneering curatorial practice employed her personal collection of Oriental artefacts as the central narrative language within the framework of Western architecture, thereby forging an entirely new form of civilisational dialogue. The exhibition achieved a remarkable 800 million global impressions, establishing itself as a major milestone in East-West cultural exchange and powerfully demonstrating the contemporary vitality of Chinese intangible cultural heritage within a global framework.
In 2023, Shelley Tsang spearheaded the establishment of the Public Art Advisory Committee under the China New Urbanisation Construction Steering Committee. The committee operates on an innovative tripartite framework—Aesthetic Infrastructure, Industrial Linkage, and Ecological Symbiosis—designed to systematically integrate aesthetic principles into the highest level of urban planning. Composed of leading experts in urban design, artistic creation, and sustainable development, its mission is to transform public art from isolated decorative elements into a holistic cultural ecosystem. Through concrete initiatives, including formulating the Public Art Guidelines for Urbanisation, implementing demonstration projects, and establishing cross-departmental collaboration mechanisms, the committee has achieved tangible success in multiple pilot cities. These successes encompass the revitalisation of cultural districts, the adaptive reuse of industrial heritage, and the reshaping of ecological landscapes. This approach demonstrates a replicable model for synergistic enhancement of social, cultural, and environmental value, providing an innovative paradigm for new urbanisation with Chinese characteristics.
Building upon this foundation, Shelley Tsang has expanded her cultural practice into the realm of film and content creation. In 2025, seizing the strategic opportunity of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's visit to China and the signing of the Sino-Spanish Film Co-production Memorandum, she spearheaded the establishment of a China-Spain joint film studio in the Yangtze River Delta region. By introducing virtual production technology, the studio precisely targets the global 500 million-strong Spanish-speaking market. At the same time, Tsang actively explored new frontiers in Nigeria's Nollywood film industry, obtaining specially approved tax incentives from the presidency to pioneer a new model for the international production of authentic African stories. At the strategic core of these efforts, she led the launch of the Silk Road of Light animated series. Using the contemporary Belt and Road framework as its narrative foundation, the project employs the language of animation to tell modern stories of civilisational exchange along the route. It merges Chinese animation aesthetics with international storytelling, leveraging technology to empower creation and build a cultural IP with a global vision. This series of strategic moves signifies that Tsang's practice of driving industrial innovation through the dual engines of "Culture + Technology" has now reached the very source of content creation, building a new ecosystem for mutual learning through cinematic arts.
Through her sustained and multifaceted engagement worldwide, Shelley Tsang has pioneered a forward-looking model of civilisational dialogue. By creating innovative practices that bridge diverse cultural contexts, she has established a multi-tiered exchange framework spanning heritage conservation, digital art innovation, and global youth empowerment — forging tangible pathways to mutual understanding. Looking ahead, Shelley Tsang will continue to pioneer new frontiers such as artificial intelligence and the metaverse, expanding the scope and depth of dialogue. She aims to ensure that high-level civilisational exchange creates profound and sustainable resonance across societies.
Driving transformative
change in women's
empowerment and global philanthropy
In addressing the complex challenges of global governance and sustainable development, Shelley Tsang has carved a distinct leadership path that blends deep humanistic insight with institutional resilience. She has long been dedicated to philanthropy and women's empowerment, guided by the conviction that true empowerment lies not in disconnected acts of giving but in building self-sustaining mechanisms that allow individual potential to coalesce into a constellation of progress, illuminating the path of our times.
To systematically advance corporate social responsibility, Shelley Tsang founded SIG Goodness, a strategic initiative designed to consolidate philanthropic resources, galvanise collective action for good, and lead by example in charitable practices. The platform focuses on three core pillars: 1) Sustainable Development for Abundance and Peace — fostering resilient and inclusive growth while building equitable development mechanisms; 2) Global Understanding and Cultural Diversity — actively facilitating international cultural exchanges and civilisational dialogue, using cultural action to promote pluralism and convey positive influence; and 3) Entrepreneurship for the Common Good — integrating ESG principles into corporate practice and advocating for responsible capital directed toward human welfare.
Beginning in 2019, Shelley Tsang served for two consecutive years as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN-registered Arts and Culture Without Borders Foundation. Far more than an honorary role, this appointment marked the start of an in-depth, global philanthropic collaboration. Alongside members of royal families from France, Spain, Ethiopia, Libya, Sikkim, Kuwait, and Pakistan, she channelled culture and the arts into a force for social good, co-leading transnational initiatives such as the SOS Beirut Charity Art Auction and the Global Children and Youth Painting and Photography Competition. These efforts demonstrated art and culture's unique, gentle power to heal wounds and inspire hearts across all boundaries.
In 2020, Shelley Tsang signed and comprehensively implemented the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs)—established by UN Women and the UN Global Compact—integrating them deeply into her corporate strategy and performance metrics. In 2022, representing SIG Group Holding, she participated in the UN Global Compact’s Target Gender Equality Accelerator program. After completing systematic training within the United Nations system, she attended the closing ceremony alongside senior representatives from over fifty leading Chinese enterprises, including JD.com, Lenovo Group, Yili Group, Mengniu Group, China Mobile, Sungrow Power Supply, and Jinko Solar. The ceremony was presided over by Liu Meng, Head of Asia and Pacific Networks at the UN Global Compact, with a keynote address by Siddharth Chatterjee, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China. This high-level engagement not only demonstrated SIG Group Holding’s substantive commitment to ESG and gender equality but also marked its emergence as a pioneer in the field of corporate social responsibility and sustainable development in China, showcasing a governance capability to translate global standards into a localised strategy. Since then, Tsang has become a key advocate for gender equality objectives, continuously deepening her engagement by participating in high-level dialogues at the UN Compound in Beijing. She actively advances initiatives such as Companies Building Family-friendly Workplaces and Inclusive Culture with Male Allyship: A Guide and Good Practices for Businesses in China, Japan, and Korea, dedicated to precisely integrating WEPs into East Asian business practices to drive systemic change from within corporations.
A defining milestone was reached in 2023 when SIG Group Holding, at the invitation of UN Women, completed an assessment using the WEPs Gender Gap Analysis Tool. Ranked among the top 3% of approximately 7,000 participating companies globally, it earned the Leader status — establishing a benchmark for industry best practice in gender equality. That same year, Tsang was invited by UN Women to represent Asian businesses at the Asia-Pacific regional dialogue of the Action Coalition on Economic Justice and Rights, a core component of the Generation Equality Forum. The dialogue convened leaders from governments, the private sector, and civil society to advance ambitious action agendas focused on four key areas: transforming the care economy, expanding decent work, enhancing women's access to resources, and building gender-equal economic systems. In recognition of this sustained pioneering work and strategic insight, Shelley Tsang was awarded the inaugural WEPs Transparency Badge in 2025, cementing SIG Group Holding's recognition for its outstanding leadership in empowering women and driving institutional change.
Capitalising on her dual perspective as an entrepreneur and scholar, Shelley Tsang has deepened the philosophy of the UN Sustainable Development Goals into a practical pathway characterised by systemic empowerment over singular aid. This approach is concretely manifested in a two-pronged strategy focusing on Technological Empowerment and Cultural Empowerment. In the fields of SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality), she launched a Women in STEM initiative under the China-ASEAN High-Level Youth Talent Exchange Platform, operated by the Southeast Asia Cultural Hub.
Supported by a dedicated fund, the initiative cultivates female leadership in the technology sector across Southeast Asia. Concurrently, she established the Salon of Elegance: International Women Successors Alliance for Intangible Cultural Heritage. This initiative transforms traditional crafts into marketable skills, creating a development model that integrates cultural preservation with economic self-reliance for women in remote regions worldwide. While advancing gender equality in academia and culture, Tsang personally embodies the spirit of lifelong learning. In January 2025, she completed all courses of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women program, connecting with a global network of 2,000 female decision-makers and receiving the Community Leadership Badge, thereby continuously strengthening her international resource ecosystem.
The year 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, represented a historic confluence and a pivotal juncture for the global gender equality agenda. As a steadfast advocate in this field, Shelley Tsang was invited to participate in a special side event during the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), organised by UN Women. There, she engaged with government representatives from Bolivia and Sweden, along with global partners, to deliberate on multilateral cooperation mechanisms for implementing the Beijing Platform for Action. That same year, in September, the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting convened under the theme of accelerating the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The meeting brought together representatives from over 170 countries, acknowledged progress in women's advancement in China, and saw the China-led "Beijing+30" resolution receive co-sponsorship from more than 110 nations, demonstrating a broad international consensus on gender equality.
Through SIG Goodness, Shelley Tsang embodies a methodology for translating global commitments into sustained, concrete action by integrating equality into corporate strategy and leading cross-cultural dialogues. Her practice offers a forward-looking model by replacing fragmented aid with systemic empowerment and building consensus through cross-sector collaboration. She posits that authentic international philanthropy constitutes a strategic investment — one that transcends mere moral advocacy to strengthen organisational resilience and drive continuous innovation. This approach delivers measurable, optimisable solutions that create tangible value, providing a substantive response to the era's defining challenge of moving from pledge to practice.
Pioneering the harmonious integration of commercial success and social value
Shelley Tsang is the Founder and Chairman of SIG Group Holdings, where she has built upon her family's legacy to drive strategic integration and resource optimisation. Under her leadership, the group has developed an innovative, efficient, and sustainable long-term development model. With an adaptive and forward-looking approach, she steers the company through contemporary challenges while methodically expanding its global footprint.
Underpinning this growth is a core strategy of "Collaborative Innovation between Government, Enterprise, Academia, and Community." Through continuous integration and upgrading, SIG has established eight synergistic business matrices that span entire industrial chains. Tsang's focus extends beyond management to deeply embedding ESG principles into the corporate framework. She actively champions sustainable development, fosters international understanding and cultural diversity, and promotes an entrepreneurial spirit dedicated to the common good. She is committed to aligning the UN Sustainable Development Goals with the Belt and Road Initiative, working with global partners to create win-win models that deliver both commercial success and lasting social value.
SIG Group Holding’s Eight Business Matrices:
SIG Cities: We are committed to developing sustainable cities that organically integrate ecological conservation with cultural heritage. Leveraging cutting-edge green technologies and cultural-artistic placemaking, we create vibrant, modern communities with a strong sense of belonging. Through our partnership with China's New Urbanisation Construction Steering Committee and the Beijing-Hong Kong dual-hub mechanism, we provide comprehensive solutions—from policymaking and technical implementation to financing—for provincial, municipal, county, and township governments. Our goal is to build resilient physical assets that preserve long-term value for sustained capital growth.
SIG Investment: Operating through a dedicated single-family office structure, we leverage strategic capital agility and deep resource synergies to identify and execute on high-conviction, value-accretive opportunities across global markets. Our methodology constructs portfolios that are both cyclically resilient and structurally aligned with long-term macro trends. With a concentrated yet diversified focus on key regions, we aim not merely for returns but for the construction of a robust, intergenerational wealth architecture that preserves capital, generates sustainable growth, and transcends market volatilities through disciplined, patient stewardship.
SIG Energy: Building on the family’s legacy in the energy sector dating back to the 1940s, we have transformed into a pioneer in clean energy. We collaborate with university laboratories to advance core technologies and build differentiated advantages through strategic patenting. Our efforts in hydrogen, solar, and other zero-carbon energy sources are creating emission-free ecosystems, while we continue to enhance environmental solutions in rare-earth development and mining governance. We are committed to building an integrated clean energy chain from source to application, providing reliable, sustainable energy infrastructure and serving as a key operational platform connecting global green capital and technology.
SIG Innovation: Building upon a family legacy of technological innovation that spans from vertical take-off and landing aircraft in 1934 to modernised rice mills in Indonesia, SIG has consistently anchored its vision in the future. We maintain a deep strategic focus on core fields including smart cities, artificial intelligence, the space economy, and cis-lunar infrastructure, while proactively exploring new frontiers such as the metaverse, biotechnology, and green energy. Our mission is to build integrated value chains from research and development to industrial application. We provide an ecosystem that combines large-scale real-world testing with full commercial deployment, designed to catalyse exponential growth for breakthrough technologies.
SIG Lifestyles: We are dedicated to building a vibrant multicultural ecosystem across nine domains: art curation, museum management, cultural heritage conservation, haute joaillerie, music production, film and television investment, sports and leisure, boutique travel, and publishing. By integrating resources and fostering cross-sector collaboration, we have established an end-to-end platform spanning creative development, production, and experiential engagement. This platform not only enhances our brand’s soft power and builds consensus within influential circles but also cultivates a cultural force that serves as a universal language for global civilisational dialogue — an essential anchor for stability in a rapidly changing world.
SIG Circulation: As a fully certified, multi-category supplier on the United Nations Global Marketplace with direct access to the procurement databases of 28 UN agencies, we work in close synergy with world-class industrial clusters spanning high-end equipment manufacturing in the Yangtze River Delta, consumer electronics in the Pearl River Delta, and engineering machinery in Central and Western China. We have built an integrated supply chain network spanning Asia, Europe, and Africa, effectively linking bulk commodity trading with e-commerce to empower high-value "Created in China" products in reaching global markets.
SIG Research: We have built a dynamic think tank ecosystem that brings together internal and external intellectual resources. We operate four dedicated internal research institutes focusing on policy, economics, culture and science. Externally, we have established four international organisations, including Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives (China), Gaudí Research Centre, International Castles and Palaces Society, and Southeast Asia Cultural Hub. In partnership with China’s Ministry of Education, we also maintain a network of nearly 400 leading universities worldwide. Through this integrated structure, we turn in-depth research into strategic foresight, helping to shape future development paradigms.
SIG Agriculture: Building on the family’s century-old legacy in modernised rice milling in Indonesia, we drive innovation across the agricultural value chain through technology. By systematically integrating rural revitalisation initiatives, smart farming, ecological aquaculture, and advanced food processing, we achieve full-chain coordination from field to fork. Our approach transforms traditional farming wisdom into scalable, sustainable industrial models, offering replicable templates for global food security and rural revitalisation while strengthening the foundation for civilisational sustainability.
SIG Group Holding's growth is deeply rooted in the trust and collaboration of its broad stakeholder network. The group consistently demonstrates its commitment to creating shared value through tangible actions. SIG was selected to contribute to the landmark study Low-Carbon Transition: Climate Governance and Strategy, co-initiated by the China Chamber of International Commerce, PwC, and the UNDP China Office, providing critical corporate insights on climate governance. The group's integrated approach has attracted sustained attention from leading global consultancies: Accenture invited its participation in the CEO Study on Sustainability commissioned by UN Secretary-General António Guterres; McKinsey sought its expertise for a case study on AI application; and Boston Consulting Group engaged in dedicated dialogues on innovative business models and sustainability. These engagements affirm SIG's thought leadership and practical expertise in sustainability, AI empowerment, and strategic innovation.
Furthermore, SIG's project achievements have been recognised by the State Council Information Office of China and featured across influential media platforms worldwide—from China's CCTV Xinwen Lianbo (flagship daily news broadcast), Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, and Global Times to Spain's La Vanguardia, Cosmopolitan (US), and Fortune magazine—demonstrating its expansive and cross-border international influence.
A Legacy in Motion
A 4000-Year Journey of Impact Through Generations.
Family Origin
and the Surname
The Zeng* clan boasts a long and rich history. Beginning with Qu Lie in the Xia Dynasty and continuing through today, the clan has flourished for 4,000 years. Its branches spread across the nation from Henan and Shandong, eventually reaching across the seas to the world. Today, the Zeng clan is a prolific source of talent in all areas of society, cooperating with various parties to promote the beauty and excellence of traditional Chinese culture.
Historical records indicate that the surname Zeng is derived from the surname Si, which itself originated from the Xia Dynasty (c. 2070 BC - c. 1600 BC), making the Zeng descendants of the Yellow Emperor.
During the reign of Emperor Shao Kang of the Xia Dynasty (1972 BC to 1912 BC), the emperor conferred his second son, Qu Lie, with the state of Zeng (present-day Fangcheng County, Henan Province). The state of Zeng was recorded in the oracle bone inscriptions of the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC - c. 1046 BC) and later in the "Historical Records" of the Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC - 256 BC).
During the Spring and Autumn Period of the Zhou Dynasty (770 BC to 476 BC), the state of Zeng was destroyed by the state of Ju in 567 BC. Prince Wu of Zeng escaped to the neighbouring state of Lu (present-day Lanling County, Shandong Province). The descendants of Zeng who fled to Lu became officials there and spread to the surrounding areas, eventually dispersing throughout Shandong and Hebei.
These descendants adopted their original state's name, Zeng, as their surname, but omitted the radical '阝' (which denotes a city or state), symbolising that while they had left their homeland, they had not forgotten their ancestors. This marks the origin of the Zeng surname.
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* Zeng, Tjan, Tsang, and Chandra refer to the same clan that has different romanisation in different periods and regions.
Zengzi and the
Confucian Legacy
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From Qu Lie in the Xia Dynasty, 54 generations passed to Prince Wu, and 58 generations to Zeng Shen (known as Zengzi, 505 BC – 435 BC). Zeng Shen was only 16 years old when he became a disciple of Confucius.
His political philosophy of "Cultivate the self, regulate the family, govern the state, then bring peace to the world," along with his emphasis on self-discipline, prudence, and filial piety, has influenced China for over 2,000 years and provides profound moral and ethical foundations for building a harmonious society today.
Confucius's grandson, Kong Ji (Zisi), studied under Zeng Shen, who subsequently taught Mencius. Thus, Zeng Shen played a pivotal role in both inheriting and developing the Confucian school of thought.
Holding an important place in Confucian history, he is credited with authoring or compiling the "Great Learning" (Daxue, one of the 'Four Books' of Confucianism) and the "Classic of Filial Piety" (Xiaojing). He is revered as one of the Four Sages of Confucius (alongside Yan Hui, Zisi, and Mencius) and is honoured in Confucian temples.
Migration and Development
Through the Dynasties
During the Qin and Han periods (221 BC to 220 AD), due to warfare and other factors, the Zeng clan migrated from their original centres of activity in Shandong and Henan into the provinces of Hebei, Hunan, and Shaanxi.
The chaos towards the end of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC to 8 AD), particularly during the time of Wang Mang, prompted over a thousand clan members to move south to Jiyang in Luling County (present-day Yongfeng County, Jiangxi Province). Consequently, Luling County became the second major place of origin for the Chinese Zeng clan.
Entering the period of the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties (220-589 AD), society was in prolonged turmoil. Coupled with the "Yongjia Rebellion" at the end of the Western Jin Dynasty (265-317 AD), large numbers of scholar clans from the Central Plains moved southward.
The Zeng clan also entered the southern provinces in significant numbers during this period. From then on, and before the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the Zeng clan had spread throughout China, with eminent figures emerging and the family's influence growing stronger.
The Min Founding Ancestor and the Longshan Branch
Social stability during the glorious age of the Tang Dynasty (650-755 AD) accelerated clan development. Until the first year of Emperor Xizong's Qianfu reign (874 AD), the Huang Chao Rebellion broke out, causing many clans from the Central Plains to move south.
During the Tang Guangqi era (885-887 AD), Zeng Yanshi, the 36th-generation descendant of Zeng Shen, who held titles such as Official of the Tang Civil Corps, Ambassador of Guangzhou, Marquis of Kaimin, and General of Jinwu (honoured as Jinlu Daifu), was ordered to lead his family, along with his brothers-in-law Wang Chao and Wang Shenzhi, to pacify the Min region (Fujian), fighting in the prefectures of Fu, Ting, Zhang, and Quan.
In 886 AD, he settled on Longtou (Dragon Head) Mountain, west of Quanzhou City in Jinjiang, Fujian. To stabilise the situation in Fujian, Zeng Yanshi implemented a series of strategies, including light taxation, support for agriculture and weaving, protection of industry and commerce, rectification of the bureaucracy, appointment of worthy scholars, promotion of Confucianism, and revitalisation of culture. These measures stabilised the Min region and ushered in a period of unprecedented prosperity.
Longshan (Dragon Mountain) became the birthplace of the Zeng clan's history of southern expansion, and the "House of Longshan" emerged as a major branch of the clan. Zeng Yanshi made significant contributions to the development of Fujian and is revered as the "First Ancestor of the Longshan Branch of the Zeng Clan."
Song Dynasty Eminence
and the 'Half-Zeng Dynasty'
During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the Zeng clan developed into a prestigious family brimming with talent.
In the second year of the Duangong era of Emperor Taizong of Song (989 AD), Zeng Hui, the eighth-generation grandson of Zeng Yanshi, achieved the second-highest score in the national-level imperial examination (Jinshi) and became a Lieutenant of the Ministry of Justice. After establishing his career, Zeng Hui rebuilt his former residence into the "Ancestral Hall of the Longshan Zeng Clan."
Zeng Hui's second son, Zeng Gongliang, was born in Jinjiang, Fujian, in 999 AD. He served with distinction under Emperors Renzong, Yingzong, and Shenzong, eventually rising to the position of Chancellor (Prime Minister). Zeng Gongliang was not only a famous politician but also a renowned military scientist and theorist.
In 1044 AD, he spent four years compiling the forty-volume "Wujing Zongyao" (Complete Essentials for the Military Classics). This work is a crucial document in both military and scientific history, notably recording the birth of the world's first gunpowder rocket in China, and is highly valued by scholars both in China and abroad. Zeng Gongliang died in 1078 AD and was posthumously awarded the title "Xuanjing" by Emperor Shenzong.
After Zeng Gongliang, his son Zeng Xiaokuan became Chancellor of the Northern Song, Zeng Huai became Chancellor of the Southern Song, and Zeng Zonglong (a Zhuangyuan, or top examination graduate) also became Chancellor of the Southern Song.
For nearly 200 years, the prestige of the Longshan Zeng clan spread throughout the country, earning them reputations such as the "Half-Zeng Dynasty," "Four Ministers and One Zhuangyuan," "Four Ministers from One Clan," "Nine Ministry-Founding Officials," and "Eleven Dukes Appointed by the Emperor."
International Trade
and the Maritime Silk Road
After the fall of the Song Dynasty, the Zeng clan continued to flourish. During the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368 AD), Zeng Shen was posthumously honoured as the "Duke of Cheng," making him the third Confucian sage after Yan Hui and Confucius himself.
However, the Zeng clan was unwilling to serve the Mongol Yuan royal court. The entire family left official life and lived in anonymity for nearly a century. During this time, they became one of the most important families engaged in international import and export trade in Quanzhou and Zhangzhou.
Quanzhou was the starting point of China's Maritime Silk Road and was hailed by the medieval traveller Marco Polo as "the largest port in the world" during the Song and Yuan dynasties. Zhangzhou later became a major port for trade with Portugal and Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Qing Dynasty and
the modernisation of China
During the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912 AD), the Zeng family inherited and carried forward the family tradition of "cultivating the self, regulating the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world" as a fine family precept and heirloom.
In the mid-nineteenth century, Zeng Guofan (1811-1872, 70th generation of the Zengzi) was a military strategist, Neo-Confucian scholar, statesman, calligrapher, and literary figure of the Qing Dynasty. During the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Rebellion (1851-1864), Zeng Guofan raised and commanded the Xiang Army. After years of fierce battles, he ultimately suppressed the rebellion.
The rise of Zeng Guofan had a profound impact on the politics, military, culture, and economy of the late Qing. On his initiative, China built its first modern ship, established its first navy, founded its first military academy, printed and translated the first Western books, and arranged for the first group of students to study in the United States. Zeng Guofan was not only one of the four most famous ministers of the late Qing, alongside Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang, and Zhang Zhidong, but also a pioneer of China's modernisation.
Modern Industry
and Ongoing Innovations
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After graduating from the prestigious Fudan University in Shanghai, Zeng Kunyu (also known as Tjan Khoengiok, 1904-1977, 73rd-generation descendant of the Zengzi, grandfather of Shelley Tsang) devoted himself to expanding the family business.
In addition to managing the family's rice mill operations, he developed his own ventures in steel, powerboats, and aircraft across Asia. Zeng Kunyu was the inventor and patent holder of a vertical take-off and landing aircraft. In the 1930s, he interacted with Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company, discussing the future of the engine and aviation industries.
In the 1950s, with his unique powerboat designs and technological breakthroughs, he won three consecutive International Powerboat Championships. Consequently, the family's powerboat business flourished. Zeng Kunyu opened a new shipyard and initiated cooperation with numerous top yachting and powerboat clubs. Later, his business partners began constructing military vessels for the Indonesian Navy.
In his later years, driven by his passion for music and his early experience as a violinist in the Fudan University Orchestra, Zeng Kunyu entered the music industry. Leveraging his extensive scientific knowledge and top-tier craftsmanship, he became a first-generation New China violin craftsman, crafting instruments for many of China's leading violinists and collectors.
Elite Education and
Migration to Hong Kong
Tsang Kwok Cheong (Shelley Tsang’s father, 74th-generation descendant of Zengzi, 1955-) and Yeung Siu Ping (Shelley Tsang‘s mother, 1955-) both graduated from Chongde College (now Beijing No. 31 High School), the oldest Christian comprehensive school in Beijing.
Founded by the Anglican Church in 1911, the school is located west of the Great Hall of the People. Its first principal was the English missionary Bishop Francis Lushington Norris, succeeded in 1927 by Ling Xianyang, a graduate of Cambridge University. The college has produced an exceptional roster of alumni, including the son of Chen Baochen (tutor to the last Qing emperor Puyi), Nobel Prize-winning physicist Yang Zhenning, nuclear physicist Deng Jiaxian, renowned architectural engineer Liang Sicheng, and more than ten academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In their youth, Tsang Kwok Cheong and Yeung Siu Ping participated in major national projects such as the construction of Tiananmen Square, the renovation of the old Beijing city wall, and the Beijing Subway Line 2, as well as performances for National Day parades. The couple tied the knot in the early 1980s, with their wedding banquet held at the Hepingmen Quanjude Roast Duck restaurant, a time-honoured Chinese brand founded in 1864, which is crowned as the "Number One Restaurant under Heaven." The original menu from their celebration remains on display in the Quanjude museum, serving as a warm testament to this personal history.
After their marriage, the couple moved to Hong Kong. Leveraging his background in mechanical engineering, Tsang Kwok Cheong joined the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (KMB). As the oldest and largest franchised bus operator in Hong Kong, KMB is also one of the world's largest privately-owned bus companies.
Energy Business and
Contributions to New China
Niu Zhenmin (1906-1994, Shelley Tsang's maternal great-grandfather) started his international trading business between China, Russia, Mongolia and Japan in Ulaanbaatar. The business was forced to end due to the Mongolian Revolution of 1911.
Thus, Niu joined the then-Chinese government to serve the country. He led several battles to protect the people during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Niu was also famous for establishing schools during the War to ensure students to continue their education. To protect the family from assassination, he left his role as the District Mayor of Nangong at the end of the War.
In 1943, Niu Zhenmin founded the Taiji Coal Mine in Beijing, entering the energy industry. With outstanding business acumen, Niu Zhenmin became one of the four major figures in Beijing's energy sector at the time and also owned businesses in construction materials and railroads across China.
Niu Zhenmin's younger brother, Niu Jinqing (as known as Liu Jinzhong), served as Party Secretary of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army, the North China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and the Beijing University of Science and Technology, receiving recognition from Premier Zhou Enlai.
Niu Zhenmin's daughter, Niu Shuqin (Shelley Tsang's maternal grandmother, 1934-2019), worked for the Beijing Sixth Construction Engineering Company. This large international construction enterprise group, founded in 1958 under the Beijing Construction Industry Group, involved Niu Shuqin in numerous major projects for New China, including the Great Hall of the People, the Beijing International Convention Centre, the Head Office Building of the People's Bank of China, and the China Arts and Crafts Museum.
Open Door Policy and
New Era of Development
Born in Hong Kong, Shelley Tsang spent her formative years in a traditional courtyard residence nestled south of Zhongnanhai in Beijing.
More than a childhood home, this Siheyuan courtyard served as a unique portal during an era of opening up. In the early years of China's Open Door Policy in the 1980s, the State Council entrusted it with hosting over 3,000 international guests, making it a vibrant cultural salon connecting China with the world. Her family life was also featured in a documentary broadcast in Europe, offering global audiences a window into the blend of traditional and modern Chinese life.
The family has kept pace with the new era, reorganising and reforming its resources with wisdom, and has become part of the 40+ years Chinese economic miracle since the Open Door Policy. The family's deep engagement in global business, government, military, and academia provided the foundation for Shelley Tsang's broad strategic perspective and robust international network.
Decades of Service in the Chinese Central Government
In the 1950s, Yang Yugeng (1925-2016, Shelley Tsang’s maternal grandfather) graduated from China's top National Central University during the Republican era and began his political career with the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Youth League.
He devoted himself enthusiastically to the construction of New China and took pride in participating in the construction of the Beijing Workers' Stadium. This stadium was one of the Ten Great Buildings completed in 1959 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
During his decades of service in the Chinese central government, Yang Yugeng was a founder and member of the organising committees for many major national sports events, such as the First and Second National Games of China in the 1960s and the famous Sino-US Table Tennis Friendship Invitation (known as Ping Pong Diplomacy) in the 1970s.
He also represented China in promoting sports and peace worldwide, including organising multinational sports events and sponsoring sports equipment to countries in Africa and South America.
Conferral of the
Preeminent State Honor
In 2019, Shelley Tsang's family elder was honoured with the Commemorative Medal for the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, issued jointly by the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, in recognition of their contributions and unwavering commitment.
Participate in shaping a new chapter of global governance
In September 2020, on the historic occasion of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, Shelley Tsang, representing SIG Group Holding, signed the Statement by Business Leaders for Renewed Global Cooperation, an initiative of the UN Global Compact. The statement consolidated the consensus of over 1,200 business leaders from more than 100 countries, demonstrating the international business community's firm support for the UN and inclusive multilateralism, and was formally presented to the UN Secretary-General as a key document at the UN Private Sector Forum.
Within this global initiative, Shelley Tsang, representing the new generation of her family, led its enterprise to stand among the mere thirty-odd Chinese companies worldwide that participated in the signing — a clear testament to her profound strategic foresight. This move not only marked a pivotal evolution in her advocacy, elevating it from corporate practice to active participation in shaping global governance, but also powerfully demonstrated the exceptional vision of an esteemed family building upon its legacy to forge a new paradigm on the modern world stage.
Ming Transitions and the
Perpetuation of Traditions
It was not until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) that the Zeng family resumed using their surname and returned to government service. Zeng Zhongkui, the 25th-generation ancestor of the Longshan branch, a Ming Dynasty scholar and court official, presided over the restoration of the "Ancestral Hall of the Longshan Zeng Clan."
In 1405 AD, when Zeng Shoulun, the Imperial Tutor to the Ming Emperor Chengzu (Zhu Di), retired, the emperor, remembering his teaching merits, granted permission to use state funds to build the Great Ancestral Hall for the Zeng clan.
Migration to Indonesia
and Business Success
Fleeing the turmoil of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Rebellion, some members of the Zeng clan (including the elders of Shelley Tsang's family line) emigrated from Fujian to Southeast Asia.
There, they further developed the family business, actively promoting international trade between China, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Beyond international import and export, the Zeng family developed integrated industries in Indonesia to expand their influence and promote modern industrial reforms.
In the early 20th century, the family's investment in the industrialisation of rice mills was highly successful, revolutionising rice production. This generated significant wealth and led to the development of the largest rice mill group in Indonesia.
By the 1950s, the Zeng family had become one of the wealthiest families in Indonesia. The flourishing family business spurred new developments in other integrated sectors, including rubber, logging, shipbuilding, and manufacturing.
Milestones of Excellence
Curating A Vibrant Lifestyle Fueled by Adventure, Creativity, and Intellectual Curiosity.
Entrepreneurship
Jewels
Creation
Writing
Gourmet
Game
Travel
Sports
Research
Gardening
Luxury
Wines
Tea
Houses
Calligraphy
Music
Happenings
and Insights
ASEAN as a Global Cultural Hub: What’s Next for Southeast Asian Arts and Media?
ASEAN’s Cultural Harmony: Celebrating the Diverse Traditions of Southeast Asia
The Rise of Cargo Airships: Revolutionizing Sustainable Logistics for the 21st Century
From Bali to Bangkok: The Most Enchanting Festivals Across Southeast Asia
Path to Clean: Market Dynamics and Sustainable Innovations in Soap and Detergents
Unity in Diversity: How ASEAN Promotes Cultural Exchange Across Member Nations
Empowering Sustainable Living: The Rise of Smart Grid Technologies and the Future of the Blue Economy
The Evolution of Southeast Asian Art: Tracing Influences, Styles, and Global Impact
The Future of Metals Without Mining: Recycling, Waste Transformation, and Sustainable Innovation
Preserving Tradition in a Modern World: Challenges and Successes in ASEAN Cultural Heritage
Next Life for Cement Kilns: Innovating for a Sustainable Future
ASEAN's Hidden Gems: Exploring Lesser-Known Cultural Hubs in Southeast Asia
Revolution in Propulsion: From Gas to "No Gas" Technology and the Emerging Opportunities
Southeast Asia’s Culinary Heritage: ASEAN’s Role in Promoting Regional Cuisines
Revolutionizing Manufacturing: The Emergence of Direct Digital Manufacturing (DDM) and Its Impact on Industry and Sustainability
Exploring Southeast Asia’s Cultural Icons: Key Figures in Art, Music, and Film Across ASEAN
From Sandfish to Silicon: Innovations and Markets in the Quest to Eliminate Friction
Crafting the Future: How Southeast Asia’s Artisans Sustain and Innovate Traditional Crafts
Sailing Towards a Blue Economy: How Fishing Sailboats are Transforming Sustainability in the Fishing Industry
The Complex History of Myanmar: A Tapestry of Power, Conflict, and Culture
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