Baiyun Detention Center
  Location within Guangdong  Baiyun Detention Center (China) | |
| Location | Kangduling, Wulonggang, Zhongluotan, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, Guangdong |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 23°22′44″N 113°25′18″E / 23.378933°N 113.421692°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Opened | May 1974 |
| Managed by | Guangdong Prison Administrative Bureau |
| Postal code | 510550 |
| Baiyun Detention Center | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 白云区看守所 | ||
| Traditional Chinese | 白雲區看守所 | ||
| |||
Baiyun Detention Center(Chinese: 白云区看守所)
Overview
The original Baiyun District Detention Center, located in No.171, XizhouZhongLu, Chatou, Songzhou, Baiyun District, was outdated and severely overcrowded.
On March 20, 2012,[1] the new detention facility was relocated to Wulonggang, Zhongluotan Town, Baiyun District. [2]
In 2025, the prison was expanded again. [3]
Inmates
The Baiyun District Detention Center in Guangzhou primarily holds criminal suspects, short-term convicts, and occasionally individuals involved in politically sensitive cases. It also detains foreign nationals accused of crimes or national security offenses. Inmates are usually held before trial or during investigation, with some serving short sentences. Political detainees and foreigners may face stricter conditions and limited access to legal or consular support.
Organizational Structure
The main construction components include detention cell blocks, a visitation building, supporting office spaces, and training grounds. The total construction area comprises: Building 1 – Administrative Office Building: 5 stories above ground, total area of 4,917.88 square meters. Building 2 – Intake and Visitation Building: 2 stories above ground, total area of 2,395.14 square meters. Building 3 – Detention Housing Building: 4 stories above ground, total area of 13,965.69 square meters. Building 4 – Power Supply Building: 2 stories above ground, total area of 369 square meters.[2]
Controversies
The prison has been accused by former inmates of being forced to assemble Christmas lights and other goods without compensation. Work was enforced under the threat of physical punishment, often carried out not by guards but by designated inmates known as "cell bosses" or "the regime."[4]
Notable Inmates
- Stuart Foster[5] -American sociology professor; detained for eight months in 2013 for theft.[6]
- Tang Jingling(Chinese: 唐荆陵) - Human rights lawyer.[7]
- Wang Qingying(Chinese: 王清营) - Activist and college instructor.[8]
- Yuan Xinting(Chinese: 袁新亭) - Activist. [9]
See also
References
- ^ 白云区看守所搬迁至白云区钟落潭镇五龙岗村期间的通知 [Notice Regarding the Relocation of the Baiyun Detention Center to Wulonggang Village, Zhongluotan Town, Baiyun District]. Archived from the original on 25 May 2025.
- ^ a b 白云区拘留所迁建项目 [Baiyun Detention Center Relocation Project].
- ^ 广州市白云区人民政府办公室关于印发广州市白云区看守所南侧地块储备项目土地及房屋征收补偿安置方案的通知 [Notice of the Office of the People's Government of Baiyun District, Guangzhou on Issuing the Land and Housing Expropriation Compensation and Resettlement Plan for the Land Reserve Project on the South Side of the Detention Center in Baiyun District, Guangzhou]. Archived from the original on 25 May 2025.
- ^ Langfitt, Frank (29 May 2014). "U.S. Teacher: I Did 7 Months Of Forced Labor In A Chinese Jail". NPR.
- ^ "Detained American Provides Glimpse Into Chinese Forced Labor Practices". 24 April 2014.
- ^ "American Jailed for Theft Describes Conditions in a Chinese Detention Center". 22 May 2015.
- ^ "China: 'I was tortured in detention': Released Guangzhou Three activist".
- ^ "Arrest Notice of Wang Qingying".
- ^ "Activists Sentenced to Prison for Demanding Democracy in China". 29 January 2016.
External links
- Official website (not secure)