A former county official in Northwest China's Gansu province has failed to have a life sentence for taking bribes including gold bars reduced.

Man Man, 46, former head of the Subei Mongolia autonomous county, was found to have received cash and assets worth more than 6.57 million yuan ($1 million) in bribes, according to a report in the Lanzhou Morning Post on Tuesday.

He also failed to account for the source of 2.08 million yuan in family assets, according to the report.

The police found gold bullion and gold medals weighing more than 10 kilograms in the basement of his apartment, said the report.

Subei county is rich in gold resources and lots of gold mine developers launched operations there when Man was head of the county government. Most of the bribes he received were from goldmine contractors wanting licenses or concerned commercial disputes, according to the local court.

Man also took money from local construction project contractors and received a bribe from an official promoted by him, said the report.

He was charged with taking bribes, embezzlement and failing to explain the source of assets and sentenced last year. All of his illegal income was confiscated.

At an appeal hearing this month the court said the original sentence should stand, according to the report.