Zhixiang left the banking industry to begin life as an entrepreneur, and in 1998 Zhixiang cofounded Dongying Fangyuan Nonferrous Metals, which became one of China's largest producers of copper cathodes. The privately held company, which is the main source of Cui Zhixiang's amassed wealth, is based in the Shandong province.
In 2014, Shandong Fangyuan Noneferras Metals Group ranked company Chairman Cui Zhixiang on the list of "Nonferrous Metals Industry 30 Years Influential Enterprises Leading Persons" who enjoy a high reputation and extensive influence in nonferrous metals industry and actively promote the prosperity and development of this industry, this commemorating the 30th anniversary of the "China Nonferrous Metal" magazine & the 30th Anniversary of China's nonferrous metals industry becoming an independent industrial sector.
