Billionaire CEO gives 6,400 staff a French holiday

Tiens Group's billionaire chairman has given 6,400 employees to a trip to France, setting a Guinness World Record for the biggest tour group to visit the country.

China's state television channel CCTV reported on Monday the employees, 5,400 from China and the rest from offices in Russia and Kenya, arrived in France over the weekend for a four-day trip, ending on Wednesday.

Tiens Group Chairman Li Jinyuan has paid more than $US14.5 million ($A18.30 million) for the four-day trip to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the company that dabbles in pharmaceuticals, finance and real estate, among others.

On Saturday, the 6,400 employees, dressed in blue and white, arranged themselves on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice to spell out the phrase "Tiens' dream is Nice in the Cote d'Azur," setting a Guinness World Record for the longest human-made phrase.

The vacation will also include a trip to Paris, where the company has made reservations in 140 hotels and organised an exclusive guided tour of the Louvre museum.

Special arrangements have been made with hotels and tourism professionals, including transport and other services in Nice and Paris, tourism agency representatives told French media.