# Ruan Xiaohuan > Chinese blogger, dissident **Wikidata**: [Q21683845](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21683845) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruan_Xiaohuan) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ruan-xiaohuan ## Summary Ruan Xiaohuan (阮晓寰), also known by the pseudonym **ProgramThink**, is a Chinese programmer, blogger and political dissident. He gained international attention for his anti‑communist blog “编程随想” and was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for inciting subversion of state power. ## Biography - **Born:** 10 June 1977, Quanzhou, China - **Nationality:** People’s Republic of China - **Education:** - Quanzhou No. 1 Middle School (1990 – 1996) - East China University of Science and Technology (1996 – 2000) – studied computer‑related subjects (exact degree not specified) - **Spouse:** Bei Zhen Ying (source: China Digital Times) - **Residence:** Shanghai (since 1996) - **Known for:** Prominent anti‑communist blogging under the name “ProgramThink” (編程随想) - **Employer(s):** No formal employer listed; affiliation with East China University of Science and Technology as alumnus - **Field(s):** Programming, software engineering, political blogging/dissidence ## Contributions Ruan Xiaohuan created and maintained the blog **Program‑Think** (https://program‑think.blogspot.com/) from the early 2000s, publishing essays that combined technical programming tutorials with political commentary critical of the Chinese Communist Party. His posts, written in Simplified Chinese, attracted a sizable readership and were shared widely on Chinese social platforms such as Zhihu (topic ID 20018632) and Twitter, where his account **@Programthink** (Twitter ID 20432388) amassed 66 282 followers as of March 2023. He also contributed code under the GitHub username **programthink**, further cementing his reputation within the open‑source community. The blog’s influence was recognized internationally when he received the **BOBs (Best of the Blogs) award** on 3 April 2013 for his courageous online activism. Ruan’s writings were repeatedly cited by human‑rights organizations documenting censorship and political repression in China, making his work a reference point for scholars studying digital dissent. ## FAQs ### Q: What is Ruan Xiaohuan’s real name and online alias? A: His legal name is **Ruan Xiaohuan** (阮晓寰). Online he is best known as **ProgramThink** or **编程随想**. ### Q: Why was Ruan Xiaohuan imprisoned? A: He was convicted of **inciting subversion of state power** and sentenced to **seven years** in prison; the court also imposed a **two‑year civil death** period, effectively stripping him of civil rights. ### Q: When did Ruan Xiaohuan disappear? A: Official records list his **date of disappearance as 9 May 2021**, after which his whereabouts remain unknown. ### Q: Has Ruan Xiaohuan received any awards? A: Yes, he was a recipient of the **BOBs (Best of the Blogs) award** on 3 April 2013 for his influential blogging. ### Q: Where can I read Ruan’s writings? A: His blog is archived at **https://program‑think.blogspot.com/**; many of his posts are also mirrored on Chinese social‑media platforms and cited in human‑rights reports. ## Why They Matter Ruan Xiaohuan’s blog merged technical programming content with bold political critique, creating a rare hybrid that reached both tech‑savvy readers and politically engaged citizens. By exposing the mechanisms of state censorship and encouraging “political enlightenment,” he provided a template for digital resistance that inspired other Chinese net‑activists. His imprisonment highlighted the Chinese government’s willingness to silence even technically oriented dissent, drawing global attention to the broader crackdown on free expression. Scholars, journalists, and human‑rights advocates continue to cite his work when documenting the intersection of technology and authoritarian control, underscoring his lasting impact on both the programming community and the discourse on digital civil liberties. ## Notable For - **Pioneering political blogging** under the moniker “ProgramThink,” blending programming tutorials with anti‑communist commentary. - **Conviction and seven‑year prison sentence** for inciting subversion of state power (2023). - **Recipient of the 2013 BOBs award** for outstanding blog impact. - **Large online following:** 66 282 Twitter followers (Mar 2023) and a widely read Chinese‑language blog. - **Recognition as a symbol of digital dissent** in China, cited by international human‑rights organizations. ## Body ### Early Life and Education - Born in Quanzhou on 10 June 1977. - Attended Quanzhou No. 1 Middle School (1990‑1996). - Studied at East China University of Science and Technology (1996‑2000), a public university in Shanghai. ### Professional Identity - Classified as a **programmer** and **software engineer** (subclass of software developer). - Native language: Putonghua (Mandarin). - Primary online identifiers: - **Blog:** https://program‑think.blogspot.com/ (Blogger, Simplified Chinese) - **Twitter:** @Programthink (ID 20432388, active 2009‑2023) - **GitHub:** programthink ### Blogging and Activism - Launched the blog “编程随想” (ProgramThink) to discuss programming concepts and political reform. - Adopted pseudonyms “ProgramThink” (English) and “编程随想” (Putonghua). - Blog content was translated and shared on Zhihu (topic ID 20018632) and other platforms, reaching a broad Chinese‑speaking audience. ### Legal Repercussions - Convicted of **inciting subversion of state power** (point‑in‑time 2023‑02‑10). - Sentenced to **7 years imprisonment** (penalty qualifier: 7 years) and a **2‑year civil death** period, effectively removing civil rights. - Officially listed as **disappeared** on 9 May 2021. ### Personal Life - Married to **Bei Zhen Ying** (source: China Digital Times). - Resides in Shanghai since 1996. ### Legacy and Influence - Recognized internationally for courage in digital dissent; his blog is frequently referenced in reports on Chinese internet censorship. - The 2013 BOBs award cemented his status as an influential voice in the global blogosphere. --- *All information above is drawn exclusively from the supplied source material.* ## References 1. [Source](https://chinadigitaltimes.net/space/%E7%BC%96%E7%A8%8B%E9%9A%8F%E6%83%B3) 2. [1981-1990年入学校友芳名录](http://www.qz1z.com/themeArticle/14-29b32fe5bda846b0b73fbd8656376087) 3. [中国“政治启蒙”博主“编程随想”证实被判刑7年监禁](https://www.dw.com/zh/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E6%94%BF%E6%B2%BB%E5%90%AF%E8%92%99%E5%8D%9A%E4%B8%BB%E7%BC%96%E7%A8%8B%E9%9A%8F%E6%83%B3%E8%AF%81%E5%AE%9E%E8%A2%AB%E5%88%A4%E5%88%917%E5%B9%B4%E7%9B%91%E7%A6%81/a-65106470)