Closed luxury club called ‘ruin of corruption’

A private luxury club that former Guangzhou Party chief Wan Qingliang used to frequent has closed and become overgrown with weeds, according to a Xinhua report, which called it “a ruin of corruption”.

Pinyunxuan restaurant, located in the famous Baiyunshan scenic spot in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, began to introduce popular low-priced dishes after Wan, who was also a former member of the standing committee of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, was investigated in June.

The restaurant was closed down at the beginning of the year due to poor management, Xinhua reported.

Three other luxury restaurants and clubs in local scenic spots and parks that Wan used to frequent have also been closed down or transformed to attract ordinary diners.

Located in Guangzhou’s Luhu Park, Jufangyuan private club, which was visited by business executives and senior Party and government officials, has been closed for eight months.

Mei Heqing, a member of the standing committee of Guangzhou’s top anti-graft body, said several luxury restaurants and private clubs have been shut down after the central government banned senior Party and government officials from visiting local luxury venues two years ago.

Wan, 50, who was once regarded as a rising political star in Guangdong, has been expelled from the Party and was dismissed from public office for corruption while he faces charges from prosecutors.

Wan was suspected to have taken large sums of bribes while in office.

“The city’s anti-graft body has strengthened supervision over officials during major Chinese festivals, which are usually the peak period for taking and offering bribes,” said Mei, who is also deputy director of the Guangzhou Bureau of Supervision.

In addition to a ban on buying gifts with public money, Mei reiterated that no Party and government official is allowed to visit luxury restaurants and private clubs during festivals, and those who violate Party discipline and relevant regulations will be punished.

Guan Yingwen, a retired worker, said many former luxury restaurants and private clubs in the city’s scenic spots and parks have closed or now sell popular lowpriced dishes.

“Some of the former luxury restaurants have been closed for many months, and are overgrown with weeds and there is rubbish all over the floor,” Guan told China Daily.

“The restaurants should be bulldozed to return the parks to residents or rebuild the restaurants to serve the ordinary people,” said Guan, who frequently visits the city’s Yuntai Garden Park.