1964: Born in Shaanxi Province, Gao Zhisheng grew up in poverty. After his father's death when Gao Zhisheng was 11, he began gathering medicinal herbs to support his family. At 16, he joined a prestigious high school but had to drop out due to financial difficulties. By selling vegetables on Xinjiang streets and self-studying, Gao Zhisheng forged a path to become a lawyer in China.

1995: He was practising law in Urumqi, Xinjiang, with a significant portion of his cases being pro bono for vulnerable groups in China. Despite facing challenges, including debts and resentment from peers, Gao Zhisheng remained committed to his cause.

2000: Gao Zhisheng relocated to Beijing, establishing the "Shengzhi Law Firm", and engaged in a wide variety of legal practices in the subsequent years.

2001: He was recognised as one of China's "Top Ten Outstanding Lawyers”. Throughout his career, Gao Zhisheng was dedicated to pro bono work, often financially supporting clients himself. He was renowned as a leading human rights lawyer in China.

July 2005: Gao Zhisheng began being subjected to stringent oppression by the Chinese authorities. While Gao Zhisheng represented the case of “Chinese House Churches”, he posted his case’s defence on the Internet and was denounced by the Government as an act that did not suit his legal profession and that this involved politics. Gao Zhisheng retorted that the Chinese legal system is unable to protect the rights of its citizens. This dialogue attracted international attention for the first time.

October 2005: Gao Zhisheng wrote to the then Chinese leaders, requesting that the Chinese government respect freedom of religion and stop the oppression of the Falun Gong.

November 2005: The Beijing Justice Bureau revoked Gao Zhisheng’s legal practice licence and ordered his firm to cease all practice for a year. In the same year, Gao Zhisheng declared his departure from the Chinese Communist Party. Ever since, Gao Zhisheng and his family members have been under surveillance, harassed and threatened by personnel of the Public Security Bureau.

February 2006: Gao Zhisheng began a 48-hour fasting protest in opposition to the violent beating incident that occurred to legal activist Guo Feixiong (see Guo Feixiong’s profile on The 29 Principles’ website). The fasting attracted widespread attention in China and also from the international community. The Chinese government began taking oppressive actions towards these protesters, with over 30 participants of the fasting protest disappearing without cause or imprisoned. This included three of Gao Zhisheng’s assistants.

August 2006: Gao Zhisheng was secretly taken away from his sister’s residence in Shandong Province.

September 2006: He was officially arrested on charges of incitement to subvert state power and was denied the right to see his legal representative or his family. Strict control measures were imposed on his family members, and they were also isolated from external communication. Information disclosed that Gao Zhisheng’s wife was also beaten.

December 2006: Gao Zhisheng’s case went to trial at Beijing’s First Intermediate People’s Court, but no notice was given to his family. Additionally, while stating that Gao Zhisheng refused his right to legal representation, the court appointed two defence lawyers for Gao Zhisheng. This trial attracted tremendous international attention. The Court eventually sentenced Gao Zhisheng to three years of imprisonment, a five-year suspended sentence, and one year of deprivation of political rights.

February 2009: While Gao Zhisheng was still serving his suspended sentences, he was suddenly taken away from his home in Shaanxi by officers of the Public Security Bureau. All contact was lost after his disappearance. Shortly after being taken away, an online article written by Gao Zhisheng titled “Dark Night, Black Hood and Kidnapping by Dark Mafia – My Account of more than 50 days of torture in 2007” was released. In his own account, Gao Zhisheng revealed that during his previous detention, he was subjected to various forms of torturous and inhumane treatment, including being electrocuted, having his genitals pierced by toothpicks, and undergoing various kinds of torture executed by secret service officers. This account immediately raised international awareness, leading to many requests from Hong Kong and other international organisations for the release of Gao Zhisheng.

March 2010: Gao Zhisheng’s family and friends received a phone call from Gao Zhisheng, indicating that he had been released half a year earlier and was in Mount Wutai in Shanxi Province.

April 2010: Gao Zhisheng was interviewed by the Associated Press in Beijing, where he stated, “I no longer have the strength to persevere. On one hand, I experienced many things in the past, and it is precisely because of these experiences that my family has been scarred. After deep thought and reflection, I have decided to only hope for peace and quiet." Two weeks later, Gao Zhisheng disappeared and lost contact once again.

December 2011: Xinhua News Agency, China’s state-backed media, reported that Gao Zhisheng’s suspended sentence was revoked by the Court, and he was to be immediately imprisoned for 3 years.

March 2012: Family members met Gao Zhisheng in Xinjiang after two years of incommunicado detention.

August 2014: Gao Zhisheng was released from prison but was placed under stringent surveillance.

2016: He published a secretly written book “Stand Up China 2017”, documenting his experiences of torture during various times when he was arbitrarily detained and imprisoned.