High-ranking local officials have hit the headlines with their attempts at frugality, but are these real improvements to work styles or simply posturing?

In one case, a TV journalist came across Wu Tianjun, Party chief of Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, taking the subway back to his office on Monday after a meeting.

Xu Jin from Zhengzhou TV told Xinhua on Thursday that he watched Wu queue to buy a ticket then followed him as he boarded the train. Some citizens recognized Wu and chatted with him during his trip.