Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei has spoken publicly about returning to China for the first time in nearly 10 years, describing the experience as deeply emotional but largely uneventful.
Ai made a quiet three-week visit to Beijing in December, his first since 2015, when authorities returned his passport after years of restrictions. He had been detained for 81 days in 2011 on tax-related charges and later lived under close police surveillance before leaving the country for Europe.
During the visit, Ai travelled with his teenage son and reunited with his 93-year-old mother, sharing images of the trip on social media. He told CNN that while he was questioned for nearly two hours upon arrival in Beijing, the rest of his stay was «smooth» and «pleasant».
The artist said he did not interpret the visit as a shift in the Chinese authorities’ attitude toward him, but rather as recognition of his long-held positions. Ai described reconnecting with the Chinese language as the most meaningful part of the return.
Ai Weiwei has long been known for his outspoken criticism of the Chinese government, including investigations into the 2008 Sichuan earthquake and later works examining Covid-19 and the Hong Kong protests. He continues to live and work abroad, saying his return to China depends on guarantees of personal freedom and free expression.
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