(Yicai Global) Nov. 12 -- Yang Huiyan, co-chair of Chinese real estate giant Country Garden, has been named China's wealthiest woman for the fifth straight year despite her shrinking fortune.

Yang's wealth narrowed by 18 percent to CNY185 billion (USD28.9 billion), still leading the group by a wide margin, according to a ranking the Hurun Research Institute released today. The 40-year-old billionaire is topping the annual list for the fifth consecutive year and for the ninth time since the institute began publishing the ranking in 2006.

The total wealth of the top 50 Chinese female entrepreneurs is CNY1.9 trillion (USD297.2 billion), the same as when the previous report was released. But the sum is only one-quarter of that of the 50 Chinese male entrepreneurs. 

The rich club has more old money this year. In the list of 50, some 23 women have inherited large fortunes, which is seven more than last year. Some 34 of the big group are "self-made," which is six less than a year ago.

The percentage of women who have inherited their billions has risen by 10 percentage points to 40 percent from last year, the highest ratio since 2012, said Rupert Hoogewerf, chairman and chief researcher of the report publisher.

The average age of the top 50 has climbed by six years, which is explained by the fact that this year entrepreneurs from the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, as well as Taiwan province, were included, and many of them have inherited their fortunes, Hoogewerf added.

Besides the winner, the runner-up has also been losing money in the past 12 months. Wu Yajun, a 57-year-old chairwoman of property developer Longfor Properties, rose one position up to the second spot on the list even though her assets had decreased by 14 percent over the year to CNY95 billion (USD14.9 billion). 

The third position is special as it involves a gainer who is not a real estate professional. Fan Hongwei, vice chairwoman of chemical fiber manufacturer Hengli Group, saw her wealth increase by 34 percent to CNY90.5 billion, entering the top three for the first time. The CNY23 billion gain is the largest seen in the entire list this year.

But the year has been tough for some. Zhou Qunfei, the founder of Apple glass supplier Lens Technology who ranked third earlier, has witnessed a 30-percent decline in wealth, ranking fourth with her CNY77 billion.

Others' losses have been even bigger. Zhong Huijuan, founder of Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group, has lost nearly half of her wealth over the six months as her figure stands at CNY70 billion, dropping her from the second spot to the fifth. 

The list reveals trending sectors. Advanced manufacturing and real estate are the main sources of wealth for the top 50 female entrepreneurs. The share of people engaged in emerging industries has dropped to 33 percent from 36 percent, and that of traditional industries is 67 percent.

The billionaires live in big cities. Six of the successful women entrepreneurs on the list live in Beijing and another six in Hong Kong. Shenzhen is the third-most-popular city among the group, even though losing five such residents from a year ago. Foshan in southern Guangdong province is No. 4 as three list members live there.

Editor: Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi