Returning to the academic world at the age of 60 came as a rude shock, recalls Wang Shi. The founder-chairman of Vanke, China's largest residential real estate developer, was given an insight into the hectic life of a 21st century university student.

For nearly 30 months during 2011 to 2013, Wang's daily routine consisted of hellishly long workdays, snatched bites to eat between university and language courses, long sessions of reading into the late hours, and very little sleep.

The huge pressures, physical and psychological, that the chairman endured during his educational pursuits in Harvard, are recounted in his second autobiography Dadao Dangran, Vanke and I (2000-2013). The book also describes his love for extreme sports, participation in public welfare organizations, and fresh changes he witnessed in the real estate and architecture industries at home and abroad.

Dadao Dangran means "The right path should step forward like this" - a slogan that was part of Vanke's cultural theme in 2007.

The firm has maintained a tradition of putting forward such themes since 1995. "It's the one that impressed me a lot," Wang told the finance channel of NetEase, a mainland Internet portal.

Hu Shuli, editor-in-chief of Caixin Media, who keeps a close eye on the property company's development, says the book offers insights beyond the news reports. It is filled with Wang's management thoughts, and reflections on mainland's politics, economy, society, culture and environmental problems.

The book picks up from the year after Wang returned his seals as general manager of the company he had founded and developed. The developer tycoon, dubbed as mainland's real-estate godfather, was then still two years from 50, a prime age for a businessman.

He went on record to say that his wife's words made him determined to leave more leisure time to follow his heart.

On a trip to Tibet, she told him that rushing forward made wayfarers ignore the scenery along the way. So their delight was lighter and shorter, even if they finally reached their destination.

From 2002 to 2005, the intrepid adventurer marked a new milestone in his life as the 11th person in the world to accomplish "7+2" - reaching the Seven Summits, the highest mountains of each of the seven continents, and the North and South Poles.

Besides mountaineering, the dynamic chairman's sports list also includes sailing, gliding and marathon running.

In his book, all chapters but one - covering his study experience - begin with a sports anecdote and Wang's inspirations from it. The closer you are to the summit of a mountain, he says, the greater the price you will pay for a wrong step. Wang thinks the lesson also suits company management.

The autobiography also devotes a lot of space to Wang's proactive involvement in public welfare activities.

He co-established Alxa SEE Ecological Association, which promotes remedies for desertification, and has been engaged in operating One Foundation, an independent charity founded by the actor and martial artist, Jet Li Lianjie.

Meanwhile, Wang continues to contribute to piloting the residential property industry, pioneering residential industrialization among private mainland companies and also advocating for responsible corporate citizenship and backing green home construction.

"Compared with their entrepreneur forefathers back in the Westernization Movement (1861-94) and early 20th century China, Wang and his fellows regard their profession as honorable and decent," says financial writer Wu Xiaobo.

"They no longer let their advancement be affiliated to the government. And they play a more active and modern part in building society. It's one of the most impressive performances in the country involving public interest over the past decade."

And Wang never pauses before embarking on the next adventure.

He is currently a visiting fellow at Cambridge University, specializing in business values and ethics. His study plan extends to Jerusalem and Istanbul, as he hopes to trace the origins of religious influence on capitalism and its impact on the enterprise system.

In his book, the high-profile entrepreneur recollects a voice-over he did for an advertisement in which he endorsed a vehicle brand. He thinks it reflected his innermost feelings.

"You will realize that only solid steps before and after your every destination sparkle in your life forever, rather than single achievements like Vanke, Qomolangma (Mount Everest) or Kilimanjaro."

"Nothing other than your experience, not your name, makes a unique you, and a unique me."