14 Facts About Liu Zihou

Liu Zihou was a Communist revolutionary leader and politician of the People's Republic of China.

Liu Zihou served as Governor of Hubei and Hebei provinces, and as the top leader of Hebei during the Cultural Revolution, but was ousted from his positions after he opposed the reforms of Deng Xiaoping.

Liu Zihou was a protege of Li Xiannian, one of China's top leaders.

Liu Zihou was born Liu Wenzhong in Ren County, southern Hebei province in December 1909.

In 1936 his force was expanded to a division and Liu became the division commander.

In Hebei Liu Zihou was a proponent of class struggle and was praised by Chairman Mao Zedong.

In May 1966, the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, Liu Zihou made a bid for the top office of Hebei.

Liu Zihou courted Li Xuefeng, party chief of North China, which includes Hebei province, and denounced the Hebei party chief Lin Tie.

Liu Zihou then persecuted many war heroes including his own former associates, resulting in at least thirty-three deaths.

In January 1967 Liu Zihou was attacked and detained by the Red Guards in Baoding, which had been designated the temporary capital of Hebei.

When Liu Zihou arrived in Baoding, two major rival Red Guard factions, both of which included supporters of the former party chief Lin Tie, united to overthrow and capture Liu Zihou.

Liu Zihou was nominally the first deputy chair, but the de facto head.

Liu Zihou retired in 1982 and died in Beijing on 22 December 2001, aged 92.

Liu Zihou was an alternate member of the eighth Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and a full member of the ninth to eleventh Central Committees.