The group was formed sometime around 2007, and was described as a "loose alliance" between officials and businesspeople, and allegedly operated somewhat like a secret society.
The society is discussed at length in Datieji (打铁记 "Fighting Iron"), a book by journalist Luo Changping (罗昌平) about the investigation into former economic official Liu Tienan.
[1] The group was said to have consisted of full and alternate members of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party who had roots or were otherwise associated with Shanxi province, and select wealthy businesspeople.
[1] As the organization did not have a formal charter nor any known written records, there have been suggestions that the reports about the group have been exaggerated, or that it is a fairly routine gathering of friends with similar interests.
[3] Nevertheless, Datieji asserted that membership in the society was a sure "ticket to high office," and alleged that Liu Tienan had used the network to gain his promotions.