Large luxury bed in official's office makes waves online

A photo of a luxury queen-sized bed has been making waves online, as it was allegedly shot in a government office.

A posting on tianya.cn one of the mainland's most popular forums, features seven photos, including the bed, an LCD television and a set of leather sofas in a large room. It claims the photos were taken in the office of He Haichang , director of the food bureau in Luliang, Shanxi.

The posting had attracted more than 148,000 clicks by yesterday and was widely reposted on social media networks on the mainland, with many internet users asking why such a big bed would be placed in a government office.

A Sina Weibo microblogger helped concoct an excuse for He. "Many people link the bed to love affairs, but I understand director He," he wrote. "He can sleep in the office when working overtime at night, and because of safety concerns for our government officials, it's not easy to fall out of bed when turning over on a queen-sized bed."

The Communist Party leadership has repeatedly discouraged displays of extravagant luxury among cadres following its 18th national congress in November.

Late yesterday Luliang's party disciplinary agency said it had demerited He and ordered him to remove the bed and other "inappropriate" furniture, China News Service reported.