Hangzhou Mayor Yao Gaoyuan resigns from his position as mayor of Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province. Just a few days ago, his deputy when he was serving in Wenzhou, Li Wuwen, was removed from his position. It’s worth noting that both Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Minister of State Security Chen Yixin are from Wenzhou.
The official announcement from the Zhejiang Communist Party stated that the 34th meeting of the 14th Hangzhou Municipal People’s Congress decided to “accept” Yao Gaoyuan’s resignation as mayor of Hangzhou. The reasons for Yao Gaoyuan’s resignation were not disclosed.
On the afternoon of April 23 this year, the Zhejiang provincial government held a mayor’s symposium where the Deputy Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee and Governor Liu Jie chaired the meeting and spoke, with Yao Gaoyuan also in attendance.
Public records show that Yao Gaoyuan, born in Cixi, Zhejiang in August 1968, has served in various positions in Zhejiang for a long time. He has held positions such as Deputy Secretary of the Jiashan County Committee, Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection, Director of the Foreign Economic and Trade Bureau of Jiaxing City, Acting County Head, County Head, and County Party Secretary of Jiashan County. From 2015 to 2017, he served as a member of the Wenzhou Municipal Committee, Minister of the Organization Department, and the Principal of the Party School of the Municipal Committee. From March 2017 to February 2018, he served as Deputy Secretary of the Wenzhou Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee. From March 2018 to December 2021, he served as Deputy Secretary of the Wenzhou Municipal Committee and Mayor. In January 2022, he was transferred to the Party Secretary and Director of the Department of Economy and Information of Zhejiang Province, becoming the Acting Mayor of Hangzhou in November 2022 and officially becoming the Mayor the following month.
Wenzhou, where Yao Gaoyuan previously served as mayor, has recently experienced personnel turbulence. On December 23, 2025, Lin Jianbo, Secretary of the Party Group and Vice President of the Wenzhou Association for Science and Technology, voluntarily turned himself in. On February 27, 2026, Lin Shinan, former Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wenzhou Urban Construction Development Group Co., Ltd., voluntarily turned himself in. On April 24, 2026, Li Wuwen, a member of the Wenzhou Municipal Committee and Deputy Mayor, also voluntarily turned himself in.
Li Wuwen, a native of Qingtian County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, has served in various positions in Wenzhou. He has held positions such as Deputy District Chief of Lucheng District of Wenzhou, Deputy District Chief, Executive Deputy District Chief of Ouhai District, Standing Deputy Mayor of Rui’an, Deputy Secretary and Mayor of Rui’an, and District Party Secretary of Lucheng District. In December 2018, he became Deputy Mayor of Wenzhou, and in February 2022, he became a member of the Wenzhou Municipal Committee and Deputy Mayor.
During Yao Gaoyuan’s tenure as Mayor of Wenzhou, Li Wuwen served as his deputy.
Commentator Li Lin believes that it is not ruled out that corruption cases have emerged in Wenzhou, involving Yao Gaoyuan who has been transferred to Hangzhou.
It is noteworthy that the current Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Minister of State Security Chen Yixin are both from Wenzhou. Li Qiang is from Rui’an City under Wenzhou, while Chen Yixin is from Taishun County of Wenzhou, and both have previously served in governing roles in Wenzhou. Li and Chen are considered close confidants of the Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping.