L i Zhongchu is the founder and chairman of Beijing Shiji Information Technology, a dominant provider of software and information systems for the hospitality and retail industries in China. A former government employee, he quit his stable job to start the business from his apartment in 1998. He initially focused on network systems maintenance before pivoting to developing specialized software for hotels.

Shiji Information has since captured a massive market share, providing property management systems (PMS) and other IT solutions to thousands of high-end hotels, including major international chains operating in China. The company also secured a significant strategic investment from Alibaba, further integrating its systems with China's digital economy. Li's vision has digitized the operations of China's booming hospitality sector.