Beijing on Thames

Last year, London was invaded by the Chinese. The bristling Terracotta Army of life-size warrior statues dating from the 2nd century BC proved the biggest hit the British Museum has had for more than 35 years. But China's actual - and ongoing - invasion of London is altogether more stealthy and powerful.

Sir David Tang, the 54-year-old founder of the Shanghai Tang brand, restaurateur, socialite and renowned Anglophile (he was knighted in this year's New Year's Honours List) is the capital's best known Chinese resident. He divides his time between Hong Kong and Eaton Square; but when I call him, he is in Beijing - naturally - awaiting the opening of the Olympic Games.

As the list on the right shows, the scope of Chinese achievement in the UK is extraordinarily broad, covering the arts, fashion and academia as well as business. Like Sir David, many have come via Hong Kong, either just before or shortly after its hand-over by the British to the Chinese in 1997. "You were the colonial masters and Hong Kong has played a huge role in the import of Chinese businesses and people here," says Sir David.

The rich Chinese are particularly drawn to London but are unlikely to be found splashing extravagant amounts of cash, or buying football clubs.

"We are producing a remarkable collection of people in London," declares Sir David, "some of whom are becoming extremely wealthy. But I think you'll find we're a bit more careful with our money than, say, the Russians or the Arabs.

"In the City you'll find that virtually every other hedge fund manager or stockbroker is a smart young Chinese guy who is not well known publicly but is nonetheless extremely important and has made a great deal of money. But you don't find many of them driving Ferraris.

"It is a very dangerous thing to flaunt wealth lest it be investigated [by the authorities in China] and I think the Chinese parvenu in London is conscious of the fact that they don't want to be bothered or looked into. They would prefer to have money in the bank."

And China's below-the-radar influence is ever-increasing. As Sir David points out, the layman has no idea that the Chinese own the port of Felixstowe, for example. The vast Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Ltd bought it in 1994. The same company launched the Orange phone brand, owns 3 Mobile and runs Superdrug. It is also behind some of London's most high-profile property development schemes including Sir Norman Foster's Albion Riverside and the redevelopment of the Lots Road power station in Chelsea.

But it is sporting loyalties that matter right now. Who will Sir David be supporting? "Well, Team China, of course. But if the Chinese aren't involved, then I'll support Britain. You're not used to winning but you do lose with good sportsmanship. I do think that's a very attractive trait: one the rest of the world, including the Chinese, could learn from."

Restaurateur
Alan Yau, 45

Took London by storm in the 1990s by launching Wagamama. This and his Michelin-starred restaurants Hakkasan and Yauatcha have been sold and Yau concentrates on his latest ventures, Sake No Hana and Cha Cha Moon. A key figure in the capital's culinary circles, Yau was awarded an OBE in 2006.

Fashion designer
Chris Liu, 39

Came to London from his home in northern China in 2001 to work for Burberry. Two years later, Liu branched off on his own and his line, Chris Liu, sells in Harvey Nichols. He counts Kylie Minogue and Jamelia among his regular clients.

Actor
Richard Ng, 69

Moved to London from Guangdong in 1997 and while he has made more than 80 films in China and Hong Kong, he is best known in this country for his role in the Channel 4 docudrama The Great Wall of China. Ng is currently working with his actor son, Carl, on two new films.

Soprano
Nancy Yuen, 30s

Rose to fame playing Cio Cio San in the acclaimed Royal Albert Hall production of Puccini's Madame Butterfly. Yuen trained at the Royal Academy and started her career with the Welsh National Opera before relocating to London where she and her lawyer husband held one of three marriage ceremonies. The other two took place in Hong Kong where Yuen was born and Singapore, her husband's home country. Yuen is currently working with the Singapore Lyric Opera, performing the role of the Countess in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro.

Banker
Baroness Lydia Dunn, 68

The first Chinese woman to be given a peerage. An influential politician in Hong Kong under Chris Patten, Lady Dunn moved to London ahead of the colony's transfer to China in 1997. Married to a former attorney general of Hong Kong, Michael Thomas, Dunn is deputy chairman of HSBC.

Author
Jung Chang, 56

Author of the autobiographical Wild Swans, which sold 10 million copies worldwide but was banned in China. Born in Yibin, Sichuan Province, Chang is married to the historian Jon Halliday. Together they spent 12 years writing Mao: The Unknown Story. A veteran London resident — Chang arrived here in 1978 — she has lived in the same house in Kensington since 1992.

Wildlife campaigner
Li Quan, 46

Left Beijing and gave up a lucrative job with Gucci to save the South China tiger from extinction. She and her multimillionaire husband bought up land in South Africa where she trains cubs taken out of captivity in China to live in the wild. With the support of Jackie Chan and David Tang, Quan runs her Save China's Tigers charity from London.

Chef and TV presenter
Ching-He Huang, 30

Her BBC television series Chinese Food Made Easy has been a huge hit and her cookbook of the same name is No1 on the hardback bestseller list. A self-taught cook, Huang was born in Taiwan and came to London aged 11. After university, she set up her own catering company. She launched the Tzu range of healthy soft drinks.

Space pioneer
Dr Kevin Fong, 37

By day an A&E anaesthetist at University College Hospital (he was on duty during the 7/7 terrorist attacks); in his spare time a leading expert on space medicine who trained with Nasa and has just applied for the job of the first European in space. Fong, who grew up in London, is co-director of the Centre for Aviation Space and Extreme Environment Medicine (CASE Medicine) and appeared in Esquire's list of the 100 Most Influential Men Under 40.

Journalist
Xinran Xue, 50

Author of an acclaimed first novel, Miss Chopsticks, she moved to London in 1997. In China she was a successful broadcaster who exposed the oppression of women. Born into a wealthy Beijing family, her parents were imprisoned and beaten after the cultural revolution and Xue was sent to a children's home. She sought solace in books and became a journalist. In 2002 Xue married literary agent Toby Eady (son of Mary Wesley).

Horse rider
Alex Hua Tian, 18

Just 10 when his British mother, Sara Noble, took him on a horse riding holiday to Wiltshire and spotted his talent. His Chinese father worked as a property developer before the family moved to London. Tian is studying for A-levels at Eton but has taken a year out to ride for the Chinese equestrian team in the Olympics, making him one of the youngest competitors in the event's history.

Artist and Calligrapher
Qu Lei Lei, 57

Came to London in 1986. After studying at Central St Martins, Lei Lei wrote a number of books about Chinese brush painting. Lei Lei lectures and recently showed at the Royal Society of Portrait Artists' annual exhibition.

Chief Executive
Joseph Wan, 54

The CEO of Harvey Nichols who initiated the transformation of the department store when he took over 16 years ago. More recently he publicly criticised Alistair Darling's non-dom tax, saying it would drive businessmen like him out of the capital.

Author
Ma Jian, 54

Born in Qingdao in China but left when his works were banned in 1986. After a spell in Germany, he moved to London where he lives with his partner Flora Drew, a translator. Ma's latest novel, Beijing Coma, commemorates the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Lawyer
Christine Lee, 40s

Born in Hong Kong but spent most of her childhood in a minority Chinese community in Northern Ireland. Her father founded the Chinese Community Association in Belfast and it was because of his work that Lee trained to be a lawyer. She organised the first ever protest by Chinese immigrants outside the Houses of Parliament. Advises the British and Chinese embassies as well as the all-party parliamentary group on Chinese affairs.

Violinist
Vanessa-Mae, 29

The youngest soloist to record both the Beethoven and Tchaikovsky violin concertos — at just 13. Born in Singapore to a Thai father and Chinese mother, Vanessa moved to London as a toddler. By five, she was playing the violin and made an early appearance on Blue Peter. Her £32 million fortune put her on the Sunday Times Rich List of 2006 as the wealthiest entertainer under 30.

Author/Film-maker
Xiaolu Guo, 35

Born in a fishing village in Southern China, but now lives in Hackney. Her first book, A Concise Chinese/English Dictionary for Lovers, was shortlisted for last year's Orange Prize, and her second, 20 Fragments of a Ravenous Youth, has been well-received. Guo is also a film-maker.

Property Tycoon
Sammy Lee, 49

Born in Hong Kong and moved to the UK at 17 to train as a lawyer. Began dabbling in property while working for Hong Kong real-estate billionaires the Chengs. Lee is now behind The Knightsbridge and Renaissance Chancery Court and has an estimated £100 million fortune. Has a major stake in the film production company M8 Entertainment, which made the Oscar-winning Monster.

Hedge Fund Manager
Yan Huo, 39

Founded London hedge fund Capula Investment Management in 2003. He made the 2008 Rich List with £80 million, after Goldman Sachs bought a chunk of Capula this year.

Media Mogul
Wendi Deng, 40

Born in Xuzhou but moved to Los Angeles in 1988 to study. She completed an MBA at Yale and in 1996 won an internship at News Corp's Star TV satellite operation in Hong Kong. Became an executive at the company and met Rupert Murdoch, whom she married in 1999. Deng is currently the director of the holding company for MySpace.com.