On February 25th, news broke that Wahaha Group announced the passing of its founder and chairman, Zong Qinghou, due to illness. He died at 10:30 AM on February 25, 2024, at the age of 79.
Following this announcement, Lei Jun, the founder of Xiaomi Group, shared the message, describing Zong as "a legend of our time."
Zong Qinghou, reflecting on his achievements, once said, "In my life, I created Wahaha. Just as a thousand people see a thousand different Hamlets, so do they see a thousand different Wahahas."
"But for me, there is only one Wahaha. It represents my entire life, all my dreams, and everything meaningful - my values, labels, and symbols. It's the proof that I existed in this world."
Despite becoming the world's richest man, he still chose to travel in second-class on high-speed trains and in economy class on planes, showing no airs typical of a person of his wealth.
Responding to comments about his travel habits, Zong said, "People think that because I am wealthy, I should travel in higher-class seats. I don't see it that way. I usually travel alone for business trips and don't need anyone to accompany me. The spirit of entrepreneurship I advocated was to strive for improvement, endure hardship, be brave in innovation, and continuously strengthen oneself."
