China's last feudal vassal king dies at 88

Dawut Mahsut, the country's last feudal vassal king, has died at the age of 88 in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Dawut Mahsut died of illness at his residence in Kuqa King's Palace, a tourist site in Kuqa County, on Wednesday afternoon. The hereditary vassal king moved into the palace in 2006, when it opened to public.

Dawut Mahsut, the 12th vassal King of Kuqa, came to the throne at the age of 14 under the approval of Sheng Shicai, a warlord in Xinjiang, in a step to solidify Sheng's rule in the southern part of Xinjiang.

He later served as bank president, factory head and translator in three separate Xinjiang counties respectively after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Prior to his death, Dawut Mahsut, the oldest civil servant in China, held the position of vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of Kuqa County.

Though a feudal king, Dawut Mahsut was widely known as a patriot, making contributions to national solidarity, social stability and economic development.