CNHRA PERSON RECORD · CNHRA-P-568823
Yang Rongli
Born
Unknown
Occupation
Unknown
Role
Religious Figure
Record ID
CNHRA-P-568823
Biography
Yang Rongli co-founded Golden Lampstand Church in Linfen, Shanxi, working with Wang Xiaoguang.[1][2]
Church in Chains records Yang’s Chinese studies and teaching and editing at Shanxi Normal University, and the couple’s departure from Three-Self structures in the 1990s to establish house-church fellowships.[1]
The organization records their early retirement in 1998 for ministry and construction funded by members in 2009.[1]
Church in Chains recounts the 2009 raid, complaints, custody and sentencing, Yang’s release in 2016 and demolition of the building in 2018.[1][2]
Case Summary
The organization dates renewed detention to August 7, 2021 and formal arrest to September. It describes prolonged delay and reported obstacles to counsel at the 2025 proceedings. Yang received fifteen years for fraud, with different sentences for her husband and colleagues.[1]
The account of the 2025 proceedings also describes obstacles to electronic case files, separate trials for co-workers and asset freezes or confiscation.[1]
Church in Chains records rejection of the appeal and affirmance of the original outcome on August 15, 2025.[1]
Timeline
2009
Earlier seven-year sentence
2021-08-07
Detained again
Church in Chains describes custody of Yang, Wang and co-workers and subsequent fraud prosecution concerning offerings to the unregistered church.[1]
2025
Fifteen-year sentence in new case
Yang received fifteen years, with different outcomes for her husband and colleagues. Church in Chains describes defense-access and electronic-file obstacles and disputes over offerings.[1]
2025-08
Appeal reportedly rejected
Church in Chains records rejection of appeal and affirmance of the original sentence on August 15.[1]
Related Events
Sources
- [1]
CNHRA-S-871574Church in Chains
Evidence location: Profile and Trial and sentencing: Golden Lampstand, earlier seven-year term, 2021 custody and fifteen-year sentence in 2025.
- [2]
CNHRA-S-151858USCIRF
Evidence location: Profile: 2009 church conflict, custody and seven-year term; geographic misspelling Shaanxi is not adopted.