List of Chinese dissidents

This list consists of activists who are known as Chinese dissidents. The label is primarily applied to intellectuals and other high-profile individuals from China who are known for their criticism of the Chinese government or its policies.

Detained and jailed people
Many Chinese political activists have been detained or jailed or exiled for their pro-democracy or rights defending activities. They include the following notable activists.

Others

 * Michael Anti (journalist), proponent of freedom of the press in China
 * Chai Ling
 * Chang Ping
 * Chaohua Wang
 * Chen Guangcheng
 * Dong Yaoqiong
 * Fang Lizhi
 * Feng Congde
 * Feng Zhenghu
 * Gao Xingjian, recipient of the 2000 Nobel Prize in Literature
 * Gao Yu (journalist)
 * Gao Zhisheng
 * Gui Minhai, publisher and writer of books on Chinese politics
 * Guo Wengui, also known as Miles Guo
 * Han Dongfang
 * Jiao Guobiao, former professor of Peking University and the author of Denouncing the Central Propaganda Department (of the Communist Party of China)
 * Li Hongkuan
 * Li Lu
 * Li Qiaochu
 * Li Zehou, scholar of philosophy and intellectual history
 * Liu Binyan
 * Alex Liu (Yongchuan Liu), data scientist
 * Lu Jinghua, former merchant who became involved in the Beijing Workers' Autonomous Federation in 1989. She later lived in New York. Attempted to return to Beijing in June 1993 but was refused entry and sent back to US.
 * Murong Xuecun, writer and critic of censorship
 * Shen Tong
 * Su Changlan
 * Su Xiaokang
 * Tang Baiqiao
 * Tashi Wangchuk, sentenced to 5 years in prison in May 2018 for "inciting separatism" after speaking to The New York Times about his concerns over the current state of Tibetan culture and language in China.
 * Wang Bingzhang
 * Wang Meiyu (王美雨), democracy activist who died in police custody under suspicious circumstances in September 2019 after having been arrested for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" in July 2019 when he was protesting for universal suffrage and calling for the resignation of Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang
 * Wang Ruowang
 * Harry Wu
 * Wu'erkaixi
 * Xie Wanjun, founding member of the Democracy Party of China
 * Xiong Yan (dissident)
 * Xu Jiatun
 * Xue Fei (host)
 * Yan Jiaqi
 * Yang Jianli
 * Youming Che
 * Yu Jie, dissident writer
 * Zhang Boli
 * Zheng Yi (writer)
 * Zhou Fengsuo