From Waitress to Global CEO: Haidilao’s Yang Lijuan Becomes Symbol of China’s Corporate Mobility

From Waitress to Global CEO: Haidilao’s Yang Lijuan Becomes Symbol of China’s Corporate Mobility

  • February 6, 2026

Yang Lijuan’s rise from a frontline waitress to the chief executive of a global restaurant business has become one of China’s most talked about corporate success stories, highlighting how loyalty, operational expertise and long term commitment can still propel careers in the country’s

Global Restaurant Giants Turn to Local Partners to Survive China’s Fiercely Competitive MarketForeign Brands Face New Pressures in a Changing Economy

Global Restaurant Giants Turn to Local Partners to Survive China’s Fiercely Competitive MarketForeign Brands Face New Pressures in a Changing Economy

  • December 8, 2025

Multinational restaurant chains that once rushed into China as the economy opened in the late 1970s are now confronting a new reality. Competition is tougher than ever rising local brands are capturing consumer attention and slowing economic growth is reshaping spending habits. As