What is the history of China Merchants Group?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

China Merchants Group traces its historic roots back to January 1872 during the late Qing dynasty, when it was founded under official sanction as China's first modern merchant shipping enterprise, playing a foundational role in national industrial modernization and foreign trade. Over the turbulent decades of the 20th and 21st centuries, the enterprise evolved into a massive state-owned conglomerate headquartered in Hong Kong. Today, its extensive global operations span port development, transportation infrastructure, toll roads, financial services, and real estate urban development worldwide.

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