Chasing China's richest man can be an adventure

There were several surreal moments in my hunt for a handshake from Wang Jianlin, the multimillionaire behind Dalian Wanda

I don't know that many billionaires. I once shook hands with an affable Richard Branson, the ever-so-slightly bohemian billionaire figure behind the Virgin brand, and I was on first-name terms with Michael Bloomberg - Mike to his friends - when I worked for him at his eponymous news service.

But that's it. A fairly short list, I think you'll agree.

So you can understand why I jumped at the chance to cover Wang Jianlin's visit to the United Kingdom to promote the English-language version of his best-selling book, The Wanda Way.

The visit included a formal book launch at a reception in the prestigious British Museum.

Calls to the publishers secured an invitation, although their public relations folk were, for publishers, curiously reluctant to allow direct access. But we were told the great man would answer questions sent in advance.

Splendid, I thought; at least I'll get to shake his hand and make some pathetic remark such as "Welcome to London, Mr Wang".

Wrong. The first sign that this was to be an assignment unlike any other came at the entrance of the museum. My colleague and I had to push through a crowd of eager, well-dressed young Chinese girls, all keen to get in and then downcast when they were told there was no way past the stern-faced security guards unless your name was on the list.

Groupies? A fan club for a middle-aged billionaire? This definitely needed a closer look.

The launch itself was a disappointment and, if I'm honest, not terribly well-handled by the publisher's PR people.

We were ushered into a crowded room with barely time to accept a drink or undergo the usual Asian routine of exchanging business cards.

Then it was into a packed amphitheater. There was barely time to settle down before four men in suits appeared - the master of ceremonies, a Chinese diplomat, a British government minister, and Wang.

Despite the presence of three high-powered guests, I'm not sure what I expected, but the polite, dapper 62-year-old sat quietly as welcoming speeches were made. Then he stood up, made a polite and restrained response, and then vanished.

No chance of interaction, no chance of any questions. And worst of all, no explanation from the PR folks. And not a single copy of the book, unless of course you were prepared to stump up 24.99 pounds ($34; 31 euros) at a table set up outside the main hall.

So far, my plan of pressing the flesh of a genuine multibillionaire were looking dashed.

Tuesday dawned a little brighter. A smooth train journey down to Oxford, the city of dreaming spires, as the 19th century poet Matthew Arnold memorably called it, for a lecture to be delivered by Wang at the Said School of Business, a prestigious part of Oxford University.

No groupies this time, but I did detect the odd fanatical look among the excited, mainly Chinese business students lining up to get in.

This time it was much better. Seats reserved for the media, a decent publicity pack and - joy of joys - a copy of the book.

Wang sat with the session's moderator, Eric Thun, a Mandarin-speaking expert in Chinese business from the school.

Watching Wang speak, I was immediately struck by how animated he was, with a sense of humor that shone through despite the somewhat dry translation coming through on the headphones. You could tell his passion is business.

And there were questions, admittedly mostly from the student audience.

One woman stood up and asked for a job, and was immediately rewarded with a signed copy of the book and advice on finding job opportunities on the Wanda website.

An unscripted surreal moment: After the unseen interpreters had switched off their microphones, a young man in an anorak jumped up and shouted a question in Mandarin.

Wang beckoned him onto the stage, and the questioner responded by climbing up and embracing Wang in a bear hug, much to the consternation of a burly, hitherto concealed bodyguard who quickly stepped out from behind a curtain.

But all was well - it seemed the youth was carried away by the emotion of the moment. His reward was a signed copy of the book and the congratulations of his friends.

As for me, I never got the handshake. But I have seldom enjoyed an assignment so much.

It must be the Wanda way.

The author is managing editor of China Daily Europe, based in London. Contact the writer at chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com