Zong Qinghou, founder and chairman of Chinese beverage giant Wahaha Group, regained his top position of the Forbes China Rich List this year with a net worth of US$10 billion, while the 2011 bellwether Liang Wengen, president of construction equipment magnate Sany, fell down five places to No. 6.

A similar list published by Hurun last month also crowned Zong as China's richest man, but set his personal wealth at a slightly higher US$12.6 billion.

Forbes said the slower economic growth shrank the total wealth of the top 100 by 7 percent, to US$220 billion, while the number of China's billionaires slipped to 113 this year from 146 in 2011.

Five spots in the top 10 were occupied by people active in the real estate sector. Wu Yajun, president of Chinese property giant Longfor, stands tall at No. 5 with her fortune of US$6.2 billion, making her the richest Chinese woman of this year.

Below follows the top ten richest Chinese people in 2012 as compiled by Forbes:

   Hui Wing Mau  許榮茂

Rank 2012: 10; Net Worth: US$4 billion

Rank 2011: 29; Net Worth: US$ 2.4 billion

Rank on Hurun Rich List 2012: 12; Net Worth: US$3 billion

Age: 62

Company: Shimao Property 世貿集團

Headquarters: Hong Kong

Origin of Wealth: Real estate