Zhang Xinghua, male, 30, was a farmer in the Liushuhe Village, Baishishan Town in Jiaohe City, Jilin Province. After 1992, he moved to Xihuangdi Village, Henanjie, Jiaohe City.
Failing to pass the university entrance examination, Zhang engaged in farming. He began to practice Falun Gong in January 1997. "I am quick in comprehension and can reach a higher plane," he told his wife, persuading her to practice Falun Gong together with him. On the evening of January 14, 1997, he watched the videotaped lecture by Li Hongzhi on Falun Gong at a fellow practitioner's home. Around 8 o'clock the next morning, he went to carry water from the nearby boiler room of a tobacco research institute. Pointing to the flames inside the boiler, he said to the worker on duty, "I'm able to enter the boiler and go out of the chimney, and nothing will happen to me." When he tried to get into the boiler, he was stopped by the worker. He then asked the latter, "How tall is the chimney?" "About 30 meters," the worker answered. "I can jump from the chimney, and will not be hurt," Zhang said. He ignored the worker's warning and climbed up the chimney quickly. Then with his arms outstretched, he jumped down. Zhang died on the way when being sent to the hospital.
