CDH is headquartered at Fortune Financial Center, 5 Dongsanhuan Central Road, Beijing, China, with additional offices in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Jakarta.

[4] In 2002, CDH was established with six founding partners including Wu Shangzhi and Jiao Zhen, who had worked together at China International Capital Corporation's Direct Investment Division since 1995.

Deals that year included stakes in sportswear company Li-Ning, display advertising firm Focus Media and Mengniu Dairy.

[7] In 2006, CDH and Goldman Sachs invested $256 million in a controlling stake in a struggling meat producer, then known as Shuanghui Group, along with Temasek and New Horizon Capital.

[9] That buyout deal, one of the first of its kind in China, sparked controversy as opponents claimed the country was selling assets too cheaply to foreign investors.

CDH's real estate business was set up in 2009 and currently manages more than US$700 million of assets through several USD and RMB funds, focusing on development projects with a sector mix of approximately 50/50 residential and commercial properties.

In 2011, CDH launched its mezzanine and credit business and currently manages more than US$640 million of assets through several USD and RMB funds, with a focus on high-yield debt solutions to finance real estate, energy resources and equity mergers and acquisitions.

[18] Since inception, CDH has invested in or acquired hundreds of companies including Hang Seng Electronics, Mengniu Dairy,[19] Li-Ning, Focus Media, Yurun Food, Yongle, China Merchants Bank, Belle International, LDK, AirMedia, CNInsure, Joyoung, Shanshui Cement, Modern Dairy, Hanting Hotel, Kanghui Medical, TSL Jewelry, M&G Stationery,[6] Xueda Education, Qihoo 360, Midea, WH Group,[20] Luye Pharma, Nanfu Battery,[21] and Baroque Japan Limited.