As the owner of one of the largest private educational services, Yu is known as the "richest teacher in China", and "Godfather of English Training".

[citation needed] In addition, the online education section has attracted more than 2 million registered users since beginning in 2003.

New Oriental was the first Chinese private education company to list shares on the New York Stock Exchange.

[5] Yu stated, "My biggest dream is to found a private university, and for it to be one of China's top educational institutions after 40–50 years of development.

New Oriental's instruction combines humorous, interactive teaching techniques with traditional Chinese educational values.

[11] Yu Minhong once emphasized his idea of "rediscovery", which included New Oriental's self-positioning among the private sector of China's education area, and Chinese international students' discovering and rediscovering of themselves and their homeland.

In 2010 it was the largest private educational enterprise in China, with approximately 10.5 million enrollment, 465 learning centers in 44 cities and 29 bookstores.

[citation needed] Other early founders who returned from abroad, and educators in New Oriental with employee stock rights also got rich overnight.

To get listed, Yu Minhong initiated reforms on corporate governance aimed at downplaying his personal influence on New Oriental, establishing himself as a professional manager with the group.

[17] Yu Minhong was elected as the president of council with Gengdan Institute on August 6, 2013, and entered private sector of Chinese higher education based on New Oriental's existing strength.

The movie was directed by famous Hong Kong director Peter Chan and was allegedly based on the self-development and entrepreneurial experience of Yu Minhong ("Cheng Dongqing"), Xu Xiaoping ("Meng Xiaojun"), and Wang Qiang ("Wang Yang"), under the context of China from the 1980s till now.

[20] Yu Minhong admitted that basically, he was the prototype of Cheng Dongqing, but denied that the character based on him was common.

[21] Yu Minhong appeared as a guest performer in a Chinese documentary film named Mr.Deng Goes to Washington, which was released in 2015.

[23] In a speech Yu stated: Hew a stone of hope out of a mountain of despair and you can make your life a splendid one.

But with a clear mission, dedicated hearts and the pioneering spirit that has driven us from the beginning, we're certain that our strength, wisdom, and energy will enable us to write a new page in the records of China's educational undertaking.