Politics of Beijing

Since Beijing is a centrally administered municipality with the rank of a province, the mayor occupies the same level in the order of precedence as provincial governors.

However, in the city's dual party-government governing system, the mayor is subordinate to the Beijing Municipal Committee Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Peng Zhen, the first Beijing party secretary, was an important political figure nationally, and was purged by Mao in the opening act of the Cultural Revolution.

Xie Fuzhi, whose term lasted from 1967 to 1972, was concurrently China's top security official, and held significant influence nationally.

Chen Xitong's (term 1992-95) political influence was considered a threat to the Shanghai clique that he was removed from the position and tried on corruption charges.