Four years after a successful comeback following a decade on the sidelines, the elite offspring of Communist Party elders are expected to expand their political and economic clout in the years to come, with some tipped for higher office.
The most famous of China's taizidang (princelings) - the sons, daughters and relatives of prominent state leaders, especially revolutionary party elders - include Vice-President Zeng Qinghong , a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, Hubei party boss Yu Zhengsheng and Commerce Minister Bo Xilai , among a group of ministers, governors and business heavyweights.
Varying greatly in character and career development, those names arguably have one thing in common - a noble pedigree that secures an edge in competing with other high-flyers without family connections, according to political analysts.
Although considered influential individually, China's princelings, believed to number in the thousands, have rarely been united as a real political force, unlike Jiang Zemin's 'Shanghai Gang' and the party's Youth League, President Hu Jintao's powerbase.
Despite the presence of some obvious frontrunners expected to do well in the major reshuffle in the next year, analysts are divided on whether the influence of the princelings will increase or diminish.
They would be further divided after the recent fall of Shanghai party boss Chen Liangyu , a protege of Mr Jiang, according to mainland political analyst Liu Junning .
'Princelings will be divided into two camps, those who support Mr Hu and others who oppose him,' Professor Liu said, noting the party of princelings was largely a political legacy of the Jiang era.
