Shanghai, January 30, 2026 – An 80-year-old man named Zhu Guangze from Shanghai was violently demolished, mysteriously died after being detained for 12 years, and his body has been missing for 9 years.
Zhu Guangze’s daughter-in-law, Zhang Xiaoqiu, has been advocating for justice on behalf of her deceased father-in-law. She told a reporter from Dajiyuan, “In 2017, my father-in-law died under mysterious circumstances, and even after 9 years, his body’s whereabouts are still unknown. I have filed complaints with the public security bureau, district police, municipal police, and even the Ministry of Public Security, but there has been no concrete written response, and the government has not taken responsibility for the situation.”
Zhang Xiaoqiu stated, “We, the family members, strongly urge to see the people alive and see the deceased, as we have the right and obligation to seek justice for the wrongful case of our elderly relative by resorting to legal means, determining the facts and responsibilities, bringing the illegal demolishers to justice, and giving Zhu Guangze a fair treatment, allowing him to rest in peace.”
Zhu Guangze was born on July 28, 1922, graduated from St. John’s University, and taught English in a middle school throughout his life until retirement. He was a Taiwanese compatriot and a family member of overseas Chinese. He resided in a private villa left by his parents at 162 Taicang Road in Shanghai for nearly a century, holding a certificate of state-owned land use rights and property rights.
The house is located in the former Luwan District Block 108. In 2002, the local government colluded with developers under the pretext of “old area renovation” and in the name of “public interest” to construct a large hotel on the land block, seeking huge profits. Without reaching a relocation compensation agreement with Zhu Guangze, they illegally and forcibly demolished the property.
On November 18, 2005, Zhu Guangze’s tragic fate began. Early in the morning, directed by the former Luwan District magistrate, accompanied by the Shanghai demolition company, organized a group of public security, street, and idle personnel to break into the house. Zhu Guangze’s daughter, bound with her hands reversed and mouth sealed, was caught while still sleeping. Meanwhile, others rushed to the third floor, wrapped Zhu Guangze in a blanket, dragged him down to the first floor, shoved him into a van, and took him to an underground garage in the Datong Business Building on Fuxing Road for intimidation, humiliation, and physical assault.
By then in his eighties, Zhu Guangze, who had suffered three strokes, swallowed his platinum ring in despair. After being rescued, he managed to survive. Ten days later, the Huaihai Police forcibly transported him from the hospital to a sub-department of the district government located at No. 16, Lane 1072, Quxi Road, Shanghai, where he was confined for twelve years until his wrongful death.
Zhang Xiaoqiu said, “He was tortured and humiliated in various ways during the twelve years of detention in the government department, frequently abused by government-employed caretakers, one of his legs was broken, and he lost an eye. Despite such distressing circumstances, he endured with the hope of one day reclaiming his villa.”
On January 26, 2017, Zhu Guangze passed away without seeing that day arrive.
Zhang Xiaoqiu emphasized, “My father-in-law held the land certificate and property certificate for the Taicang Road villa, as well as three household registers—one for the old man, one for our family of three, and one for my husband’s sister’s family, all of us living in the private villa left by our ancestors.”
She added, “The local government, driven by profit-making motives, built a large hotel on the site of our century-old private villa, arbitrarily seized private property, infringed on Zhu Guangze’s rights, and must be held accountable for the abuse of power, malfeasance, and infringement!”