A total of 26 women made their way onto Forbes' list of the wealthiest 400 people on the Chinese mainland this year, eight more than last year. Their combined net worth was US$36.38 billion, accounting for 7.9 percent of the total wealth of the top 400 richest.

Of the 146 billionaires on the list, 12 are women. Check out who they are and the unusual stories behind their huge fortunes.

   Huang Xi (黃晞)

Age: 49

2011 net worth (US$): 1 billion

2010 net worth (US$): 1.07 billion

General rank: 135

Company: Good First Group

Headquarters: Fujian

Title: Chairwoman

Main focus: Diversified

Huang Xi, 49, has been the chairwoman of Good First Group since 2001. The conglomerate now has interests in areas such as finance, property development, hi-tech and modern agriculture. The company is also the founder and the largest shareholder of Minsheng Bank, the first bank in China to be owned mostly by non-governmental companies.

A very private person, Huang was a former middle school math teacher who entered Good First in 1989. She has since served as financial chief and on the Board of Supervisors and the Board of Directors. She was instrumental in assisting founder and former chairman of the company, Chen Zhanghui, in expanding the company's corporate business. Together with other key figures in the company, Huang holds a 96.04 percent stake in the company.