With the promotion of Xi Jinping to the top echelon of power, Shanghai, the mainland's commercial capital, will have its fourth leader in a little more than a year, renewing worries about instability in the wake of a massive corruption case.
The party chief of inland Hubei province , Yu Zhengsheng , is expected to take over as Shanghai party boss, meaning another outsider taking the helm, sources close to the government said. A spokeswoman for the Shanghai government said she had no information about Mr Xi's replacement.
Mr Xi served as Shanghai party secretary for seven months, the shortest period for the post since 1949.
After former Shanghai party secretary Chen Liangyu was sacked in September last year for embezzling from the city's pension fund, Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng held the post on an acting basis for six months.
Chen's removal was widely viewed as a way for president and party general secretary Hu Jintao to bring the city to heel and weaken the powerful 'Shanghai Gang' of present and former leaders. Mr Xi was a compromise candidate acceptable to both Mr Hu and others.
A 'princeling' with experience running two of the mainland's most prosperous provinces, Mr Xi maintained a low profile in Shanghai. But he can take credit for successfully hosting the Special Olympics and maintaining rapid growth despite the corruption scandal.
Mr Xi helped redeem Shanghai in the eyes of top leaders. When Mr Hu came to Shanghai for the opening of the Special Olympics early this month, he delivered the reassurance that the city should continue to take the lead in economic reforms.