“Snow mountain” the very name evokes images of pristine landscapes. Xue Shan translates roughly to “snow mountain”. Bai Xueshan, whose name means snow mountain, was born in Wuqi County in 1961.
Bai Xueshan’s story is not about geographical peaks. It is about the rise and fall of a political figure. He graduated from the Central Party School in 1984. Bai Xueshan began his career at Yinchuan Suburban Second Construction Company.
From there, Bai Xueshan ascended through various government positions. He served as a liaison in Shanghai. Then he became governor and Party Committee Secretary. He climbed to party chief of Helan County and vice mayor of Yinchuan. From 2006 to 2007, Bai Xueshan became mayor of Yinchuan.
In 2007, Bai Xueshan was transferred to Wuzhong. He became the Party Secretary. Locals gave him a nickname: “Bai Luanchai”. This meant “Bai who arbitrarily tears things down”. This was due to his tendency to raze parts of the town. He made way for new construction.
By 2013, Bai Xueshan had risen to Vice Chairman of Ningxia. Ningxia is an autonomous region. The Chairman is equivalent to a provincial governor. Bai Xueshan was said to be involved in real estate development.
However, his career took a turn. In 2015, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection investigated Bai Xueshan. He was accused of “serious violations of regulations”. He was expelled from the party. The investigation revealed a “shallow sense of duty”. He participated in “superstitious activities”. He accepted bribes. Also, he promoted the business interests of his relatives.
In 2017, Bai Xueshan was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He had taken 38.87 million yuan in bribes. His story serves as a cautionary tale. It highlights the consequences of corruption. The name Xue Shan may evoke purity. However, Bai Xueshan’s actions led to his downfall.