The Thallium Poisoning Case of Zhu Ling Re-Emerges

Update (October 2026): Zhu Ling died in Beijing on December 22, 2023, at the age of 50. No one had been charged over her poisoning by the time of her death, and the case remains unsolved.

The 1994–95 assassination attempt on Zhu Ling still rattles Chinese social media.

Zhu Ling, once a brilliant and beautiful second-year student at one of China's most prestigious colleges, was left bedridden and nearly blind. The main suspect was Zhu Ling's roommate, whose family was believed to have political connections. However, after being questioned by the police, she was quickly released and was rumored to have moved to the United States.

Hundreds of thousands of people who sympathize with Zhu Ling have put forward their own versions of the incident while blogging about the case online. Some people have even petitioned the White House.

What Happened?

Besides studying at one of the most prestigious Universities, Zhu Ling loved music and was an accomplished guqin player. She was exceptionally talented, which could have made her classmates jealous.
In late 1994, Zhu Ling started to suffer from mysterious symptoms, seemingly out of nowhere—stomach pain, hair loss, and blurred vision. In early 1995 the illness returned with severe pain in her legs, and she soon fell into a coma. Doctors could not determine the cause of the disease and, as such, were unable to treat her.
Concerned about her condition, Cai Quanqing and Bei Zhicheng, friends of Zhu Ling, posted her symptoms on the internet, hoping to find someone that would be able to help.
They received more than 1,500 responses, roughly a third of which suggested thallium poisoning. Zhu Ling's friends took this information to her doctors, and at the end of April 1995 tests arranged by her parents confirmed the diagnosis. Zhu Ling's life was saved.

Yet, unfortunately, those who survive can never fully recover from thallium poisoning. Zhu Ling was left almost completely blind, permanently brain-damaged, and confined to a wheelchair. In addition, her mental capacity dropped to the level of a six-year-old.
The main suspect was her roommate, Sun Wei. She was reportedly the only one among Zhu Ling's acquaintances who had access to thallium for the purpose of conducting chemical experiments. Yet despite being questioned by the police, she was quickly released, leaving the assassination attempt unsolved to this day.

The case resonates strongly with Chinese young people since it raises questions against the independence of the judiciary in China. Many people assume that Sun Wei escaped punishment due to her political connections.

Nevertheless, thanks to the internet and online forums, Zhu Ling's life was saved. In a way, this incident could be considered one of the first cases of telemedicine.