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China's most well-known political prison. Built with Soviet assistance; holds senior officials convicted of corruption and high-profile political prisoners.
Background
The Ministry of Public Security Qincheng Prison (Chinese: å ¬å®é¨ç§¦åçç±) is a maximum-security prison located in Qincheng Village, Xingshou, Changping District, Beijing in the People's Republic of China. The prison was built in 1958 with aid from the Soviet Union and is the only prison belonging to China's Ministry of Public Security. The Ministry of Justice operates other non-military prisons.
Political prisoners have been incarcerated in Qincheng, among them participants in the Chinese democracy movement and Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. Famous former inmates include Li Rui, Jiang Qing, Yuan Geng, Bao Tong, Dai Qing, as well as Tibetan figures such as the 10th Panchen Lama Choekyi Gyaltsen and Phuntsok Wangyal.
Holds senior officials convicted of corruption and high-profile political prisoners. Conditions reportedly better than ordinary prisons but with strict isolation rules.
Visiting
Highly restricted; family visits typically denied or limited to once monthly for high-profile inmates.
Mailing
Strictly screened; political content censored.
Practical info
Foreign-consular access for non-PRC nationals subject to bilateral practice.
Known issues
No independent international monitoring access. Detentions of dissidents Liu Xia and Bao Tong are documented.
Wu Jiaxiang (simplified Chinese: å´ç¨¼ç¥¥; traditional Chinese: å³ç¨¼ç¥¥; pinyin: Wú Jià xiáng; born 7 October 1955) is a Chinese scholar and writer who held various political roles in the Chinese government.
Wang Guangmei (Chinese: çå ç¾; pinyin: Wáng GuÄngmÄi; WadeâGiles: Wang Kuang-mei; 26 September 1921 â 13 October 2006) was a Chinese politician, philanthropist and the wife of Liu Shaoqi, who served as the spouse of the President of the People's Republic of China from 1959 to 1968.
Bo Xilai (Chinese: èçæ¥; pinyin: Bó XÄ«lái; born 3 July 1949) is a Chinese former politician who was convicted on bribery and embezzlement charges.
Ye Duyi1912–2004 · politician.jpg)
Bao Tong1932–2022 · politician
Zhou Yongkang1942 · politician
Wang Guangmei1921–2006 · politician
Bo Xilai1949 · politician