The splatter from the fall of Shenzen's mayor could drench other officials near him.

The city pivotal to reforms in the country is undergoing a political shakeup as Mayor Xu Zongzheng, 54, has been detained while undergoing a graft probe by the anti-corruption watchdog.

The central government's disciplinary commission yesterday did not elaborate on what led to Xu's investigation, but media in neighboring Hong Kong pointed out two potential causes - links to possible financial crimes of Huang Guangyu, once China's richest man, and Xu's growing unpopularity among political rivals. It's unknown who will take over his position during the investigation.