Ai Weiwei returns to China after about 10 years away

Ai Weiwei made a three-week visit to Beijing in December, his first return since 2015 after Chinese authorities returned his passport, and he described the trip as emotionally significant.

Ai Weiwei, the Chinese dissident artist, made a three-week visit to Beijing in December. It was his first return since 2015, when Chinese authorities returned his passport. He spent about a decade living abroad after detention and a period of surveillance at home. During the visit he shared personal photos and videos and travelled with his teenage son while visiting his elderly mother. Reported details: - The visit was reported as lasting three weeks and was the first trip back since 2015, when his passport was returned. - Ai was previously detained for 81 days on tax-related charges and later lived under police surveillance before relocating abroad for roughly ten years. - At Beijing airport he was inspected and questioned for almost two hours, and he described the remainder of the stay as smooth. - He shared images and videos of family moments, including time with his teenaged son and a reunion with his 93-year-old mother. Summary: The visit was described as emotionally significant and allowed time with family after a long absence. Ai said he did not interpret the trip as evidence of a change in official attitudes and characterised much of the stay as smooth. Undetermined at this time.