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Qiandao Lake incident

SOLVED1994Qiandao Lake, Chun'an County, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026

Documents violence — written to inform, not to shock.

Illustrative

On March 31, 1994, the tour ferry Hai Rui was hijacked by three men on Qiandao Lake, in Chun'an County, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The vessel caught fire, and all 32 people aboard were killed: 24 Taiwanese tourists, six Chinese crew members, and two Chinese tour guides. The ferry had been due to return on the night of March 31; it was found ablaze on the morning of April 1, and local civilians alerted police. Authorities organized a search involving police, on-duty troops, and civilians but initially found no passengers or crew. After the fire was extinguished, 32 bodies were discovered in the ship's lower cabin.

During the investigation, local police did not provide the public with updates, which fostered a belief among victims' families and the Taiwanese public that the government was concealing information and controlling media coverage. Hangzhou police brought in medical experts to examine the bodies on April 2, and victims' families arrived from Taiwan on April 4. China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) arranged receptions for the families, but declined a request from Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) to assist the families at the scene. Zhejiang's provincial police joined the investigation on April 6. Authorities denied families access to view the remains or review the autopsy report; the remains were cremated in Tonglu County following protests from the families.

Chinese officials initially described the incident as a ship fire, a characterization disputed by victims' families and the Taiwanese public. On April 9, Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui publicly criticized the Chinese Communist Party and stated that Taiwanese intelligence had claimed the case involved robbery by People's Liberation Army soldiers. On April 12, ARATS vice president Tang Shubei reiterated to SEF officials that the incident was a ship fire. Taiwan responded by suspending cross-strait exchanges and halting group tours to China starting May 1, along with pausing trade and cultural discussions.

On April 15, three suspects were arraigned. On April 17, Zhejiang provincial police announced the case was solved as a "major robbery, arson and murder case," naming three suspects, two of whom had military connections. Victims' families questioned how three men could have subdued 32 people. Public prosecution was announced June 3, and on June 12 the court convicted Wu Lihong, Hu Zhihan, and Yu Aijun of robbery and murder, sentencing all three to death; they were executed on June 19.

The incident significantly damaged Taiwan-China relations, contributing to a reported 20-point drop in Taiwanese support for unification and a 10-point rise in support for independence, alongside lasting setbacks to Taiwanese tourism in China.

Key facts

Victims
On file
Date
1994
Location
Qiandao Lake, Chun'an County, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1994-03-31

    The tour ferry Hai Rui is hijacked by three men on Qiandao Lake, Chun'an County, Zhejiang Province.

  2. 1994-04-01

    The ferry is discovered ablaze; 32 bodies are later found in the lower cabin after the fire is extinguished.

  3. 1994-04-02

    Hangzhou police arrange for medical experts to examine the discovered bodies.

  4. 1994-04-04

    Families of victims arrive in Chun'an County from Taiwan.

  5. 1994-04-06

    Zhejiang provincial police department joins the investigation; authorities deny families access to remains and autopsy report.

  6. 1994-04-09

    Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui publicly criticizes the Chinese Communist Party over the incident.

  7. 1994-04-12

    ARATS vice president Tang Shubei tells SEF officials the incident was only a ship fire.

  8. 1994-04-15

    Three suspects are arraigned by the court.

  9. 1994-04-17

    Zhejiang provincial police announce the case solved as a major robbery, arson and murder case; three suspects named.

  10. 1994-04-18

    PRC Premier Li Peng announces talks to explain the case.

  11. 1994-05-01

    Taiwan halts all group tour travel to China.

  12. 1994-05-08

    Taiwanese SEF organizes a group to visit the scene of the incident.

  13. 1994-06-03

    PRC authorities in Hangzhou announce public prosecution.

  14. 1994-06-10

    The common pleas court in Hangzhou reaches its final instance.

  15. 1994-06-12

    Wu Lihong, Hu Zhihan, and Yu Aijun are convicted of robbery and murder and sentenced to death.

  16. 1994-06-15

    Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council issues a statement criticizing PRC authorities' handling of the case.

  17. 1994-06-19

    The three convicted men are executed.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Wu Lihong

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of robbery and murder in the hijacking and killings aboard the Hai Rui ferry; sentenced to death and executed on 1994-06-19.

    citation on file

  • Yu Aijun

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of robbery and murder in the hijacking and killings aboard the Hai Rui ferry; sentenced to death and executed on 1994-06-19.

    citation on file

  • Hu Zhihan

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of robbery and murder in the hijacking and killings aboard the Hai Rui ferry; sentenced to death and executed on 1994-06-19.

    citation on file

Places

Qiandao Lake, Chun'an County, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

29.6091, 118.9900

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
In March 1994, a tour boat on Qiandao Lake in Zhejiang, China, was hijacked and set on fire, killing all 32 people aboard, including 24 Taiwanese tourists, six Chinese crew, and two Chinese tour guides. The case became a major diplomatic crisis between Taiwan and China after local authorities were accused of concealing information.
Where did the crime happen?
Qiandao Lake, Chun'an County, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Who was convicted?
Wu Lihong (Convicted of robbery and murder in the hijacking and killings aboard the Hai Rui ferry; sentenced to death and executed on 1994-06-19.), Yu Aijun (Convicted of robbery and murder in the hijacking and killings aboard the Hai Rui ferry; sentenced to death and executed on 1994-06-19.), and Hu Zhihan (Convicted of robbery and murder in the hijacking and killings aboard the Hai Rui ferry; sentenced to death and executed on 1994-06-19.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.

Sources

  1. Qiandao Lake incidentwikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. Contemporaneous coverage — Los Angeles Timesnews · Los Angeles Times · 2026-07-07
  3. Contemporaneous coverage — The Independentnews · The Independent · 2026-07-07
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