<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-K report of China Resources Development, Inc. for the year ended December 31,
1997 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such report.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
<CURRENCY>                               RENMINBI YUAN
                                               
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                       8.28
<CASH>                                             124,547
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       11,249
<ALLOWANCES>                                             0
<INVENTORY>                                         61,792
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   281,692
<PP&E>                                              11,866
<DEPRECIATION>                                       4,370
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     437,880
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               63,765
<BONDS>                                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                             27
<COMMON>                                                50
<OTHER-SE>                                         240,895
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       437,880
<SALES>                                          1,149,171
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 1,194,600
<CGS>                                            1,092,972
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    1,092,972
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    34,060
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  15,007
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     52,561
<INCOME-TAX>                                         9,798
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 42,763
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        18,200
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         3.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         3.04