12 Facts About Mao Yuanxin

Mao Yuanxin was considered an ally to the radical political faction known as the Gang of Four.

Mao Yuanxin was arrested soon after Mao's death after a political struggle ensued, and was sentenced to prison.

In 1960, Mao Yuanxin was admitted to Tsinghua University, then transferred to the PLA Institute of Military Engineering and became politically important during the Cultural Revolution.

Some historians believe that Mao Yuanxin relayed news to Mao that the April 1976 "Tiananmen Incident" was planned by Deng Xiaoping, which resulted in Mao's final break with Deng before the latter's purge.

Mao Yuanxin was arrested along with other of their supporters following Mao's death in October 1976, and was sentenced to seventeen years in prison by court martial.

Mao Yuanxin faded from public view after the end of the Cultural Revolution.

Mao Yuanxin was released from prison in October 1993 after having served his 17-year sentence.

Mao Yuanxin changed his name to Li Shi and worked in the Shanghai Automobile Industry Quality Testing Institute as an engineer.

Mao Yuanxin retired in 2001, and receives a pension in accordance with his "senior engineer" qualification.

Mao Yuanxin receives treatment as a "martyr's family member" because of his father's manner of death.

Mao Yuanxin attended the 120 year commemoration of his uncle's birth in 2013, held in Hunan Province.

Mao Yuanxin is married to Quan Xiufeng, a former factory worker.