On August 17, 2026, Gao Huan, a high-ranking official in Heilongjiang Province, was removed from office due to allegations of serious violations of discipline and law. Gao Huan had long been in charge of the forest city of Yichun in Heilongjiang Province. Since 2026, there have been multiple forestry officials in Heilongjiang Province under investigation.
According to the report from the Heilongjiang Province Discipline Inspection Commission, Gao Huan, the Deputy Director of the Ethnic and Religious Committee of the CPPCC Heilongjiang Province, was suspected of serious violations and is under investigation.
Gao Huan, born in January 1965 in Nehe, Heilongjiang Province, graduated from Northeast Forestry University with a major in Forestry Economics and Management. She had held various positions in the university and the Communist Youth League before moving into governmental roles. Gao Huan served as the Deputy Secretary of the Heilongjiang Provincial Communist Youth League, then as the Secretary before taking on leadership positions in Yichun City.
Yichun City, where Gao Huan was in office, is known as the largest forest city in China and a key region for state-owned forests, with a vast area covered by forests, including the world’s largest primeval red pine forest, earning it the titles of “Forest Capital” and “Hometown of Red Pine.”
During her time as a city official, Gao Huan actively promoted initiatives to boost the forestry sector. She advocated for the development of a collaborative innovation platform for forest economy resources and emphasized the importance of financial strategies to enhance the value of forestry assets.
The investigation into forestry officials in Heilongjiang Province also revealed cases involving other high-ranking individuals, such as Liu Peng, a former inspector from the Yichun City People’s Congress, Yang Fan, a deputy county head from Tahe County, Shen Yong, a former party official from the Economic and Development Commission of Yichun City, Li Jun, a former executive from the Daxing’anling Forestry Group, and Ma Chunping, a former vice general manager of the Longjiang Forest Industry Group.
The series of investigations into forestry officials in Heilongjiang Province reflects the ongoing efforts to address corruption and misconduct within the forestry industry. The authorities are committed to upholding transparency and accountability in the management of forest resources, ensuring the sustainable development of the region’s forestry sector.