A big talker

Wang Xuming has many job titles - publisher, TV anchor, blogger. Since his first book hit the stands in August, he became a writer as well. Yet most people know him as the "spokesperson of the Ministry of Education (MOE)", a title he lost a year ago.

Wang was perhaps the most controversial spokesperson of central government agencies. Unlike many Chinese officials who prefer to keep a low profile, Wang loves the spotlight and is known not to mince words. Some journalists would playfully call him the second in charge at the MOE after the minister.

In a country where people traditionally believe an official should be prudent, modest and reticent, Wang broke the stereotype in many ways, for which he was both admired and detested intensely.