On April 29, 2026, marks the 58th anniversary of the death of Lin Zhao, a prominent figure in the human rights movement in Hunan Province. Zhu Chengzhi, a well-known rights activist, went to Suzhou to pay his respects, but as in previous years, he was intercepted on his way.
Zhu Chengzhi made a solitary trip to Lingyanshan in Suzhou to honor Lin Zhao, but he was stopped by the Chinese authorities at Suzhou Railway Station and sent back to Shaoyang. Zhu Chengzhi has since returned home. Each year when he goes to pay tribute to Lin Zhao, Zhu Chengzhi is intercepted. In 2018, he even received a 3-year and 6-month sentence for disturbing public order for paying homage to Lin Zhao.
After his release from prison in 2022, Zhu Chengzhi continues to visit Lingyanshan in Suzhou every April 29th to sweep Lin Zhao’s grave, only to be intercepted and sent back by the Suzhou Public Security Bureau each time.
Zhu Chengzhi told The Epoch Times reporter, “I am not worried about what might happen (interception or sentencing), I am doing my own thing, taking responsibility for my actions, and whatever happens is beyond my control.”
He said, “I simply told them (the police) that when the time comes that we can pay respects to Lin Zhao openly and solemnly, then I won’t feel the need to go.”
According to historical records, Lin Zhao, originally named Peng Lingzhao, was born in Suzhou in 1932. In 1954, she scored the highest in Jiangsu Province and was admitted to the Chinese Department of Journalism at Peking University. In 1957, Lin Zhao was labeled a rightist for speaking out for a classmate who was wrongly accused. In 1960, she was arrested in Suzhou on charges of counter-revolutionary activities, and shortly after, her father Peng Guoyan committed suicide. On April 29, 1968, Lin Zhao received a death sentence, which was originally a 20-year jail term. She immediately punctured her veins and wrote in her own blood, “History will declare my innocence.” That same day, she was secretly executed, at the age of 35.
Today, Lin Zhao has become a symbol of resistance against authoritarianism in China, dedicating her life to freedom. Therefore, every April 29th, many people visit to pay their respects, and even more express their condolences for Lin Zhao online.
Netizen “YiFengSu”: On April 29, 2026, Mr. Zhu Chengzhi held lilies in his hands and set off for Lin Zhao’s grave in Suzhou from Hangzhou East Railway Station. He fears no suppression from the CCP and insists on going every year. Freedom is priceless, life is finite, and it is better to be shattered like jade in service to China.
Netizen Wu Pingqi: Phosphorus does not extinguish, but grows flowers in the ashes. Lin Zhao, you are the unbroken light of this nation. We commemorate you— for your righteousness like a mountain, for your courage like the sea, and because even in the darkest night, there are still people willing to ignite a fire with blood. On the 58th anniversary of Lin Zhao’s death, we commemorate her with this text!