MCDONELL: Many Chinese factories have also been hit by a collapse in demand following world financial turmoil. Yet this company sells 80% of its products domestically. More and more Chinese businesses are now pinning their hopes on the huge local market rather than an uncertain global climate. It’s even thought that Chinese consumers will eventually transform the international economy by simply buying things.

RUPERT HOOGEWERF: “Well the general consensus is that you’ve got another 15 years of fast growth derived from this urbanisation program and if all goes to plan, at that stage it will then remarkably slow down and, at that point, we’re going to have to look for the so-called middle class who are going to start spending in China and that will be when Chinese brands really come to the front if you like”.

MCDONELL: In the meantime it’s luxury European brands that are counting on China’s super rich class to shore up their fortunes. Zhang Zhen is from the east coast city of Qingdao and he’s the founder of the Beijing Sports Car Club. He divides his time between his hometown and the capital – sometimes driving between the two with his mates or family members.

“Can you tell us how many sports cars you have?”

ZHANG ZHEN: “Sports cars… I am the kind of person who loves them. If I have a bit of spare money I will buy some. I don’t prefer any particular type. I’ve bought most of them – Ferraris, Maseratis, and so on”.

MCDONELL: Zhang Zhen is very cagey about where his and his family’s money has come from. He says he’s an investor in the service industry. If so, he’s been very successful because his collection of sports cars is worth a not so small fortune. What’s more, this young man in his 20s says his parents have merely offered him moral support and that he’s been able to earn enough himself to service his ultra expensive pastime.

ZHANG ZHEN: “I’ll save some money – if I make a bit of money I’ll use some of it to buy cars”.

MCDONELL: Who says America is the land of capitalist dreams? Here you can get rich, show it off and as long as you’re on the right side of powerful people, nobody is going to question how you got to where you are. This may be a country of massive wealth disparity but even the smallest percentage of mega rich individuals becomes in China, a large and extremely powerful group. And, with their tear-away success and big ambitions, it’s a group that is going to go a very long way.