Bo Xilai, the former high-flying Chinese politician whose dramatic fall from grace shook the ruling Communist Party, appeared at his closely watched trial in eastern China on Thursday.

Once considered a contender for the top rungs of China's political hierarchy, Bo is now on trial on charges of bribery, corruption and abuse of power.

Chinese authorities had talked of an open trial for the former party boss of the sprawling southern metropolis of Chongqing. But journalists from the international news media weren't allowed into the courtroom in the eastern city of Jinan.