The plan is part of a broader goal to capitalize other units including its film, tourism and sports businesses via stock listings, Wang, China's richest man, said at the Asia Financial Forum. He gave no timeline for any IPOs.

The company also sees more risk investing in China's largest cities, so-called tier 1 cities, because of high land costs, and will continue to focus on third-tier cities, Wang said.

(Reporting by Elzio Barreto and Clare Jim)