The sprawling inheritance battle over Wahaha, China’s legendary beverage empire, appears to have reached a critical detente. During the recent Qingming Festival, Kelly Zong (Zong Fuli), the successor and daughter of founder Zong Qinghou, made a high-profile gesture by inviting her half-siblings, Zong Jichang and Zong Jieli, to pay respects at their father’s grave in Hangzhou. This symbolic act of filial piety suggests a move away from the bitter litigation that has overshadowed the company since July 2025.
The dispute originally ignited 16 months after the elder Zong’s passing, when three half-siblings filed lawsuits in both Hong Kong and Hangzhou. At stake is a fortune estimated at 35 billion RMB, including nearly $2 billion in offshore trusts and a pivotal 29.4% stake in the Wahaha Group. For a brand that is a household name across China, the public nature of this feud threatened to destabilize the distributor networks and brand equity that Zong Qinghou spent decades building.
Signs of a broader resolution are also emerging in the corporate boardroom. In late March, Kelly Zong reportedly reached a settlement with Shangcheng Culture and Tourism, a state-owned entity that holds a significant stake in the company. By agreeing to pay a premium of over 2 billion RMB to facilitate an equity transfer, Zong has effectively solidified her control while placating local government stakeholders who prioritize the stability of one of Hangzhou's largest taxpayers.
Adding another layer to this complex corporate reorganization is the involvement of Du Jianying, a longtime associate of the late founder. Du has reportedly agreed to contribute over 300 million RMB to the equity acquisition alongside Kelly Zong. This alliance suggests that the 'old guard' of the Wahaha leadership is lining up behind Kelly, provided that the legitimate interests of the extended family are acknowledged and integrated into the new corporate structure.
While the tomb-sweeping gesture signals an emotional and social truce, the legal path forward remains intricate. The half-siblings are expected to be granted roles within the company once the equity structure is officially untangled. This 'Grand Union' strategy aims to preserve the company’s foundation, though the final distribution of the massive 35-billion-yuan estate and the resolution of employee shareholding litigation continue to loom as final hurdles for Kelly Zong's undisputed reign.