▁Sh i ▁was ▁studying ▁during ▁four ▁years ▁( 1 9 6 4 – 1 9 6 8 ) ▁in ▁the ▁North west ▁University ▁for ▁National ities . ▁After ▁his ▁gradu ation ▁from ▁the ▁department ▁of ▁politics , ▁he ▁started ▁working ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 6 8 , ▁and ▁joined ▁the ▁Commun ist ▁Party ▁of ▁China ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 9 7 9 . ▁He ▁had ▁served ▁during ▁ten ▁years ▁( 1 9 6 9 – 1 9 7 9 ) ▁in ▁various ▁posts ▁in ▁He zh eng ▁County ▁of ▁G ans u ▁Province ▁before ▁eventually ▁becoming ▁the ▁mayor ▁of ▁He zh eng . ▁From ▁July ▁ 1 9 8 4 ▁to ▁November ▁ 1 9 8 6 , ▁he ▁served ▁as ▁vice ▁mayor ▁of ▁Lin x ia ▁H ui ▁Aut onom ous ▁Pref ect ure ▁of ▁G ans u . ▁From ▁September ▁ 1 9 8 5 ▁to ▁January ▁ 1 9 8 6 , ▁he ▁studied ▁at ▁C PC ▁Central ▁Party ▁School . ▁In ▁November ▁ 1 9 8 6 , ▁he ▁became ▁vice ▁secretary ▁of ▁C PC ▁Lin x ia ▁committee , ▁and ▁was ▁elev ated ▁to ▁secretary ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 8 8 . ▁He ▁was ▁appointed ▁as ▁director ▁of ▁propag anda ▁department ▁and ▁a ▁standing ▁committee ▁member ▁of ▁C PC ▁G ans u ▁committee . ▁From ▁September ▁to ▁November ▁ 1 9 9 7 , ▁he ▁again ▁studied ▁at ▁Central ▁Party ▁School . ▁In ▁August ▁ 1 9 9 8 , ▁Sh i ▁was ▁transferred ▁to ▁J