about
Founder, Chairman, and President of Yongning’er Group: Dr. Li Yongshui
Chairman’s Introduction
Li Yongshui, a native of Xiaoshan, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, is the founder, chairman, and president of Yongning Er Group Co., Ltd. He is an expert in textile engineering and holds an EMBA (Executive Master of Business Administration) degree from Zhejiang University and Fudan University, as well as being among the first cohort to complete the DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) program jointly offered by Fudan University and City University of Hong Kong. He was recognized as an Outstanding Entrepreneur of Zhejiang Province in the 22nd session and serves as Vice President of the Zhejiang Textile Industry Association.
Chairman Li Yongshui and Yongning Er Group Company
“The benevolent delight in mountains, the wise delight in water.”
Throughout history, wise and virtuous individuals have either been benevolent or wise.
Although there are countless people in the world, those who possess both “wisdom” and “benevolence” are truly rare.
Setting one’s aspirations first and then acting wisely and with benevolence—this is the cornerstone of achieving success in one’s endeavors.
— Li Yongshui
Chairman Li Yongshui delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the first cohort of the joint DBA program between Fudan University and City University of Hong Kong (July 4, 2011, City University of Hong Kong).
Stepping into Chairman Li Yongshui’s office, one’s eyes are immediately drawn to a calligraphic plaque reading “Wisdom and Benevolence in Action.” Through the glass window, a sweeping view unfolds: rows of beautiful, modern factory buildings stand tall, while the constant flow of vehicles and logistics within the厂区 beautifully intertwine, creating a vibrant and spectacular panorama—the Yongning’er Group Textile Industrial Park. Founded in 1990, Hangzhou Yongning’er Company, under the leadership of Li Yongshui, has grown from a small, workshop-style factory at its inception into today’s state-owned, modern group corporation, boasting two major production and R&D bases in Xiaoshan and Anji, 32 branch (and subsidiary) companies, over 2,300 employees, and annual sales approaching 3 billion RMB. A complete textile-related industrial chain—covering chemical fiber raw materials, chemical fiber weaving, dyeing and finishing, home textile fabrics, finished fabric curtains, and medical dressings—has been fully established here, demonstrating tremendous growth potential and unique advantages as a specialized industrial cluster.
As we turn the pages of Yongning’er’s growth history, we can’t help but feel deeply respectful toward Li Yongshui, the company’s founder, leader, and chairman—the visionary behind Yongning’er.
Ambition. Li Yongshui is a figure shrouded in legend. Having lost his father at an early age, he and his siblings depended entirely on their mother for survival. In those days when material resources were extremely scarce, unwilling to accept his circumstances, he set out from childhood with the firm resolve to achieve great things and change his destiny with his own two hands. While his peers were still doing odd jobs, working in the fields, playing cards, or drifting aimlessly from place to place, he had already become a locally renowned “little team leader” in construction and interior decoration, known throughout the surrounding villages and hamlets. When the spring breeze of reform and opening-up first swept across the Qiantang River, having already undergone the initial trials of life, he had grown into a vigorous and ambitious young man. He resolutely decided to switch careers, starting from scratch with a capital of 15,000 yuan and six employees, and founded the Nanyang Network Silk Factory in Nanyang Town, Xiaoshan—this was the precursor to today’s Yongning’er Company. From those initial 15,000 yuan to today’s annual sales scale of several billion yuan, these two vastly different figures evoke far more than mere astonishment!
Wise. Chairman Li Yongshui often says, “When two people walk together, one of them is bound to be my teacher; only by never ceasing to learn can one become truly wise.” Having spent a long time honing his skills and gaining experience in the industry, he has long since become an industry expert—but his dedication to learning remains as unwavering as ever. He leads by example, constantly learning from his peers, studying his competitors, exploring cross-industry knowledge, and even stepping beyond national borders to embrace international perspectives. With remarkable perseverance and a relentless spirit of inquiry, after earning dual master’s degrees in EMBA (Executive Master of Business Administration) from Zhejiang University and Fudan University, he devoted three more years to rigorous study and successfully obtained a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree—a joint program between Fudan University and City University of Hong Kong—marking yet another milestone in his lifelong pursuit of knowledge.
In his busy schedule, in addition to carving out time to participate in high-level industry management forums for exchange and learning, he often visits prestigious universities and research institutes. There, he engages in extensive discussions and seeks validation from experts and scholars on critical issues related to the company’s development strategy—such as corporate management, macroeconomic trends, industry development trends, and international market dynamics. He frequently reminds senior and mid-level executives within the company to “step back and view China from the perspective of the Yangtze River Delta region, and then step back further to see the world; only by gaining a deep understanding of industry trends and patterns can we accurately grasp the direction of our company’s development.” He emphasizes that we must always maintain a strategic vantage point in the industry, continuously learn, keep pace with the times, and thus properly define our development path. Thanks to his long-term erudition and already exceptional intellectual capacity, he has become even more imbued with the wisdom, resilience, and boldness characteristic of Zhejiang entrepreneurs. Whenever major decisions arise—such as adjustments to the company’s core industries—he consistently demonstrates foresight and insight, making swift decisions and executing them with lightning speed and precision through his own unique perspectives and approaches. Time after time, his decisions have proven to be professional, scientific, and spot-on. Yet these repeated successes are no mere coincidence; rather, they are the inevitable outcome of his remarkable ability to seamlessly integrate theory with practice—a result of years of deep accumulation and genuine “wisdom.”
Li Yongshui (left) poses for a photo with Professor Shi Yigong, President of Westlake University (member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, structural biologist, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Vice Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology) (February 23, 2025).
“Training is a benefit for the enterprise, and learning is the employee’s effort”—this has always been one of the fundamental approaches advocated by Chairman Li Yongshui to enhance the overall quality of the company’s employees and help them achieve “wisdom.” Under his leadership, the company has gradually established a learning-oriented corporate system and culture. On-the-job training and continuous learning have become widespread among employees, enabling the enterprise to achieve remarkable growth and development. Mr. Li Yongshui himself has transformed from an entrepreneur who started from scratch to a successful business leader—a journey that took him from being a “small boss” to an ambitious “entrepreneur,” and then to a strategic visionary who skillfully steers and guides the company toward healthy growth and sustained expansion. His story is a quintessential example of how knowledge can transform one’s destiny, shape the future, and build a thriving career. This inspiring case has become a tremendous spiritual treasure for all members of Yongning’er, continually motivating them to forge ahead courageously on their path toward realizing their life’s values and fulfilling their shared vision for the company’s success!
Practicing benevolence means loving others, cherishing one’s family, uplifting others, and helping people reach their full potential—a lofty ideal in human conduct. As an entrepreneur with a strong sense of social responsibility, Li Yongshui regards talent as the company’s greatest asset. He says, “Wasting talent is the greatest waste for any enterprise.” On the one hand, enterprises should do everything within their power to provide material support for attracting and nurturing various types of talent internally. On the other hand, they must offer diverse opportunities, ample space, and platforms for talented individuals to fully demonstrate their abilities and realize their potential. Those who have interacted with him often remark that he is especially kind to college students. “Our goal—and the ultimate aspiration of our enterprise—is to enable each and every one of us at Yongninger to make the most of the platform provided by the company, to fully realize our own maximum value, and to pursue even greater glory and dreams.” This is his insightful elaboration on the “human-centered philosophy” of enterprise management. His practice of benevolence is not limited merely to showing kindness and care toward employees or cultivating talent. Despite leading a frugal lifestyle in his daily life, he also deeply cares about social philanthropy. For several consecutive years, his company has been recognized by the local government as an “Advanced Unit Dedicated to Public Welfare and Charitable Causes.”
Li Yongshui (right) poses for a photo with Xia Ningshao, professor at the School of Life Sciences at Xiamen University (member of the Academic Advisory Committee of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering).
Li Yongshui (right) poses for a photo with Zheng Nanfeng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a professor at Xiamen University (left).
Li Yongshui believes that enterprises must find every possible way to make good use of the resources provided by society, seize every opportunity, strive for growth and development, create jobs, pay more taxes to the state, generate material wealth for society, and contribute even more to the community. This continuous cycle of giving back and reinvesting is, in essence, a process through which an enterprise’s social value is constantly realized.
“Set your sights on entrepreneurship, pursue your career wisely, practice benevolence to achieve great things, and walk your own path!” — This is the true essence of Chairman Li Yongshui’s success in both life and career.