81-Year-Old Falun Gong Practitioner Jailed in Jilin Province

Wang Jianying was arrested for the first time in 2001, then again in 2004, 2011, 2024, and on July 1 this year.

By Song Baozhai

July 22, 2025

In China, being more than 80 years old would not save you from jail if you are caught practicing Falun Gong.

Wang Jianying is a Falun Gong practitioner from Gongzhuling, Changchun City, Jilin Province. Born in 1944, he is now 81 and has endured significant hardships in his life. A retired government employee, he started practicing Falun Gong in 1996, finding solace and purpose in the teachings.

In 1999, when the Chinese Communist Party initiated a severe crackdown on Falun Gong practitioners,  Wang Jianying became one of many who faced persecution for his beliefs. In 2001, he was arrested for his unwavering commitment to his practice and spent two painful years in a detention center. Upon returning home, he faced the heartbreaking loss of his job simply for refusing to abandon his faith.

In 2004, he faced arrest again and endured an additional two and a half years in Chaoyanggou Detention Center, where he faced further hardships. The situation worsened in July 2015 when he was sentenced to five years in prison, where he continued to bear the weight of persecution.

The tragedy deepened on August 7, 2024, when both Wang Jianying and his fellow practitioner, Wang Yuying (female), were arrested and subjected to searches of their homes in Gongzhuling. After being detained for 15 days, they were transferred to Gongzhuling Prison. Around September 20, 2024, Wang Yuying died in jail. In a disheartening gesture, the authorities provided her family with 30,000 yuan for burial expenses, but no amount of money could ease the pain of their loss.

Wang Jianying was released on bail pending trial on September 24, 2024, but the struggles were far from over. In June 2025, he received the distressing news that he would have to participate in a video trial at home, ultimately resulting in yet another five-year prison sentence.

On July 1, 2025, the Xiangshui Town Police Station arrested him again. His grandson was informed that he had passed a physical examination and was judged fit for detention in Gongzhuling Prison, with a release date currently set for May 2030.

Wang Jianying’s perseverance in the face of these trials is a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit—and the importance of standing up for one’s beliefs.

Source: bitterwinter.org