Feng shui obsessed official expelled from Party

A former vice-chairman of Ningxia Hui autonomous region who was known for being obsessed with feng shui has been removed from his office and expelled from the Communist Party of China for severe disciplinary violations.

The CPC's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on Monday accused Bai Xueshan of "seriously violating political discipline, opposing investigations, and concealing the truth from authorities."

Bai was long engaged in superstitious activities that have been banned among Party members, the discipline commission said. He also was accused of seeking benefits for businesses owned by family members and seeking personal gains while handling personnel affairs.

The commission announced earlier in November that Bai was being investigated for suspected "severe disciplinary violations." His case was transferred to the judiciary.

Bai is the first high-ranking officials who has been publicly accused by the discipline commission of being engaged in superstitious activities, the Beijing News reported.

Bai was obsessed with feng shui when he was the mayor of Yinchuan, Ningxia's capital, and the Party chief of Wuzhong city between 2006 and 2012, and pushed forward a number of urban renovation projects despite opposition from residents, the report said.

He made great efforts to expand Wuzhong city to the north when he was the Party chief so the city was connected via the Ningxia River to the Yellow River, China's second longest. Local officials said the main reason for the project was Bai's belief that being connected with the river would provide him with good luck and allow him to climb the official ranks more quickly, the report said.

When he led the construction of a new government building in Wuzhong, he ordered a water fountain to be rebuilt many times to provide good feng shui, or environmental harmony, the report said.