Chinese Landscape Architect Becomes A Billionaire After AI Pivot Sends His Company’s Shares Up Almost 1,600%

Nearly four decades ago, Li Xiaoming co-founded the Chinese landscape design company Huilu Ecological Technology Group, which focuses on building urban gardens and carrying out ecological projects such as lake restoration. Yet it was savvy investments in artificial intelligence that made Li a billionaire, as it boosted the once-troubled company’s stock price by nearly 1,600% over the past two years.

Forbes estimates that the 52-year-old chairman of a Shenzhen-listed company has amassed a fortune of $2.8 billion through his stakes. Lu Hui did not respond to a request for comment.

Headquartered in the central city of Wuhan, Huilv has enjoyed market optimism since announcing an investment in Wuhan Sanguang Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. in mid-2024. Sanguang Wuhan Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. is a private company that produces artificial intelligence-related components such as optical modules and transceivers. Today, such hardware is widely adopted in AI data centers to facilitate faster data transfers, as these devices use light-based signals to transmit and receive data.

As early as 2024, Lu Hui spent 195 million yuan ($29 million) to acquire 30% of Tri-light’s shares. The landscape architect invested another 310 million yuan today, raising his stake to 51%, according to regulatory filings. According to documents filed in September 2025, the company plans to acquire the remaining 49% stake in a cash and stock transaction of 1.13 billion yuan.

The company’s stock price soared as a result. The nearly 1,600% rise since the initial investment in 2024 now gives Huilv a market capitalization of nearly 50 billion yuan. As demand for such products continues to grow, investors may find more reasons to be optimistic. according to Hyderabad-based market research firm Mordor Intelligence said the global optical transceiver market will nearly double from $15.4 billion in 2026 to $29.3 billion in 2031 amid the artificial intelligence-induced boom.

Meanwhile, Sanguang founder Peng Kaisheng told the state-run Securities Times in February that the cooperation with Lu Hui provided Sanguang with the funds and resources needed to expand production. With Lu Hui’s support, Sanguang is currently building the second phase of the factory in Ezhou, a city about an hour’s drive from its Wuhan headquarters.

According to the Securities Times, Coherent, a listed U.S. optoelectronic component manufacturer, said it expects the annual output of optical communication products to reach 4.5 million units after completion by the end of 2027.

Hui Lyu decided to invest in the artificial intelligence component maker after conducting extensive research, according to a 2024 document explaining the company’s decision. Li worked at the Chinese Navy’s Zhoushan base before starting his own company, according to a brief profile in the company’s annual report.

The company relisted in Shenzhen in 2021, after delisting in 2005 due to mounting losses, and the share price has stalled again as companies large and small compete for a share of China’s fragmented landscape design market. Huilv’s annual revenue dropped from RMB 775 million in 2021 to RMB 587 million in 2024. Net profit for the year was 65 million yuan, down from 80 million yuan three years ago.

But after accounting for sales from Tri-light, which is now a subsidiary, revenue in the first three months of 2026 rose 25.2% year-on-year to 386.6 million yuan, according to a stock exchange filing. Net profit fell by a quarter from the same period last year to 14.9 million yuan. The contraction was mainly due to foreign exchange losses and shrinking sales in its landscape design business, the company said in the filing.