Zhang Yin, 49, the woman who founded Nine Dragons Paper Industries Co., Ltd., was named the richest person in the Chinese mainland with a worth of 27 billion Yuan ($3.4 billion), according to the Huran Report. It was the first time a woman had made it to the top of the list since it began keeping track in 1999.

Zhang Yin, a self-made woman in the paper-recycling business, was compared to other female entrepreneurs, including Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and American media star Oprah Winfrey.

ZhnagYin has two children, and so does J.K. Rowling, but Zhang is richer than Rowling, the report stated.

Among the reactions in the Chinese media were some who saw Zhang as a modern day version of the famous heroine, Hua Mulan, proving that women could be better than men.

The next two richest in the mainland, according to the list were Huang Guangyu of China electronics chain GOME at $2.5 billion, and Zuh Mengyi of Hopson Development Holding Ltd. at $2.06 billion.

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