After a series of absences from important collective activities of the Chongqing Municipal Committee following rumors of his disappearance, Hu Henghua, the mayor of Chongqing under the Chinese Communist Party, was officially removed from his position on March 20, 2026. Sources revealed that Hu Henghua was taken away from Chongqing by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection personnel on the morning of March 17, 2026, and at least 4 close relatives were also taken into custody on the same day.
Prior to his downfall, Hu Henghua served as the mayor of Changsha city, partnering with former Secretary of the Hunan Provincial Party Committee, Yi Lianhong, who was removed from his position a month earlier. According to a former official from Changsha city, Hu Henghua’s main issue, much like Yi Lianhong, was related to corruption involving his family.
On March 20, 2026, at 2 p.m. Beijing time, the official website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced that Chongqing Municipal Committee Deputy Secretary and Mayor Hu Henghua was under investigation for “serious violations of discipline and law.”
Hu Henghua’s last public appearance was on March 16 when he chaired a leadership meeting on talent work in the Chongqing Municipal Committee. Social media started buzzing with rumors of his investigation on March 17, and he was notably absent from high-level activities of the Chongqing Municipal Committee on March 18 and 19.
Following the announcement of his removal, sources from Chongqing revealed that Hu Henghua was taken away from Chongqing by personnel from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission on the morning of March 17, 2026. Temporary traffic control measures were reported in the vicinity during and after his removal. News of Hu Henghua’s removal spread in political and business circles in Chongqing on the afternoon of March 17.
Informants from the political circles of Hunan disclosed that on the same day, at least 4 close relatives of Hu Henghua were also taken away by personnel from the disciplinary and supervisory commissions in various locations.
Additionally, a self-media blogger noted a drastic change in Hu Henghua’s appearance, with his once meticulously groomed hair now appearing unkempt and overgrown, lacking proper care. Reports indicated that his demeanor in recent public appearances, both in Beijing and Chongqing, was notably different, displaying signs of discomfort, restlessness, and an unnatural gaze. Compared to his previous unscripted and confident style of speaking, Hu Henghua was observed speaking mostly with his head down, reading from prepared notes.
Born in June 1963 in Hengnan County, Hunan Province, Hu Henghua held various positions in Hunan, including roles at the Hengyang Steel Pipe Company and later serving as director, deputy secretary, and mayor of Yiyang, director of the Hunan Provincial Development and Reform Commission, deputy secretary and mayor of Changsha, and other significant positions. After a transfer in October 2020 to serve as the Deputy Secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee, he was later appointed as the mayor of Chongqing in December 2021 until his recent investigation.
Following reports of Hu Henghua’s removal, Liu Yun, who previously worked closely with Hu Henghua as the Deputy Secretary of the Changsha Municipal People’s Congress Party Group, revealed details suggesting that Hu Henghua’s downfall was linked to allegations of his brother and other family members exploiting his position for personal gain through involvement in construction projects.
The circles in Hunan began speculating about Hu Henghua’s fate after the downfall of Ulan, former secretary of the Hunan Provincial People’s Congress Standing Committee in October 2025. With the subsequent investigation of Yi Lianhong, rumors and discussions about Hu Henghua’s potential downfall, concerning similar family-related issues, became more widespread.
Before his removal, Hu Henghua faced disciplinary actions in the aftermath of the significant “4‧29” collapse of self-built houses in Changsha, Hunan in 2022, which resulted in him receiving a warning within the Party.
Insiders from Hunan’s political realm pointed out that this was not the first time Hu Henghua faced disciplinary measures in his career. In July 2014, following a major hazardous chemical explosion on the Hukun Expressway in Shaoyang City, Hunan Province, which claimed 58 lives, investigations led to disciplinary action against Hu Henghua, who was serving as the mayor of Changsha at that time.
Hu Henghua became the sixth provincial-level official in Chongqing to be removed from their position after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Previous officials in Chongqing who faced investigations include Zheng Hong, former Deputy Director of the Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress Standing Committee; Xiong Xue, former Deputy Mayor of Chongqing; Lu Kehua, Secretary of the Chongqing Municipal Committee for Political and Legal Affairs; Duan Chengang, Deputy Mayor of Chongqing; and Jiang Duntao, former Deputy Mayor of Chongqing.
Reports from insiders in Chongqing indicated that during his tenure there, Hu Henghua’s actions sparked controversies. He was accused of overstepping his boundaries in certain areas, including using his influence to promote a private renewable energy company specializing in electric vehicle charging stations. Hu Henghua allegedly requested full cooperation from state-owned enterprises in Chongqing to establish charging stations funded by them, while the private company was responsible for operation and profit sharing over a 20-year cooperation period.