记者：贾嘉

人物简介

陈开频，1963年7月10日出生，1984年毕业于浙江公安专科学校（现浙江警察学院）文艺系。毕业后曾在杭州从事服装设计工作，后下海经商，先后经营公司、娱乐业、酒店、桑拿等产业，并长期从事迪拜与伊朗之间的外贸生意。

2008年6月4日，北京奥运前夕，陈开频在杭州闹市区——杭州大厦楼顶悬挂巨型横幅，横幅尺寸约1米×10米，并从楼顶撒下两箱传单，约四百余份。传单内容包括：“不要让中华民族成为人类文明的最后一页”“共产党、政府腐败是万恶之源”“她杀害了胡耀邦”等文字。

事件发生后，陈开频被以“煽动颠覆国家政权罪”判刑两年，并在杭州监狱及十里丰监狱服刑。

2013年，习近平提出“中国梦”后，陈开频再次公开表达政治观点。他在网络上发文，批评个人崇拜与权力集中，并提出“中国真正的问题是制度问题，而不是某一个人的问题”。相关言论随后引发关注。

此后，陈开频曾多次公开发声，包括在网络平台发表文章、接受采访，以及骑自行车前往台湾，希望通过民间传播方式表达自身诉求与政治理念。

长期以来，陈开频持续呼吁言论自由、公民权利与制度改革。他认为，中国社会的核心问题并非人民本身，而是长期缺乏正常的权力监督与制度约束。

陈开频在其自述中写道：

“高悬横幅，不断发声，不断坐牢，也是为了让人们觉醒。绝不屈服强权，是我做人的性格和理念使然。”

时代背景

这场采访所呈现的，并不仅仅是一个人的人生经历。

上世纪九十年代以来，中国社会经历了高速经济发展，城市化、市场化与互联网浪潮迅速改变了无数普通人的命运。许多人在经济增长中获得了更好的生活，也对未来抱有期待。

但与此同时，社会内部也逐渐出现贫富差距扩大、权力失衡、言论空间收缩等问题。尤其在互联网高度发展的背景下，普通民众第一次拥有了更广泛的信息获取能力，也让越来越多人开始关注公共议题、社会公平与个人权利。

在这样的时代背景下，一部分人选择沉默，一部分人选择离开，也有少数人，选择继续发声。陈开频便是其中之一。他的经历，既带有强烈的个人色彩，也折射出一个特殊时代里，一部分普通中国人对于现实、制度与个人命运之间关系的思考。

受访者：陈开频（浙江中国民主党人）

采访人：贾嘉

采访地点：《在野党》杂志社

“很多人不理解，你明明可以过得很好”

贾嘉：陈老师，我也简单看了一下您的经历，确实很受触动。

其实很多人都会有一个困惑：您原本生活条件挺好的，为什么最后会选择这样一条路？

陈开频：这个事情说来话长。我是浙江美术学院毕业的，学服装设计。后来做生意，做过外贸，也开过公司、酒店、歌厅、桑拿这些。九十年代初的时候，我就已经赚到人生第一个一百万了。那个年代，其实已经算过得很好了。我也去过很多国家，见过很多东西。所以后来很多人都不理解，说你明明可以安安稳稳过日子，为什么还非要去做这些事情。

但我觉得，人活着，总有一些事情，是你觉得“应该做”的。不是一时冲动。

而是慢慢觉得，这个社会、这个体制，已经出了很大的问题。“我不是突然反对的，我以前也相信这个体制”

贾嘉：您是一开始就对体制有怀疑吗？

陈开频：不是。其实我以前也是相信的。包括我们父母那一代，都是受共产党教育长大的。很多人年轻的时候，真的是相信它的。我家条件也很好，在当地属于大家都羡慕的家庭。工作、待遇、生活条件，都挺好。所以我后来慢慢意识到问题的时候，其实内心挣扎很长时间。因为你会发现明明中国人是很聪明、很勤劳的，但很多事情越来越不对劲。问题不在人，问题在体制。“挂横幅的时候，我知道会出事”

贾嘉：您后来在杭州挂横幅、发传单，当时其实已经想到后果了吧？

陈开频：知道。我当然知道。尤其2008年奥运前那个时期，其实气氛已经很紧张了。但那个时候，我心里就是有一种感觉—有些事情，总得有人去做。如果每个人都怕，那很多问题永远不会有人说。

我当时挂横幅、撒传单，其实已经知道，回去以后肯定会出事。但还是去做了。“其实我也怕，但不做会更难受”

贾嘉：那您害怕吗？

陈开频：当然怕。怎么可能不怕。他们完全可以像捏死一只蚂蚁一样对付我们。很多事情，外面人根本想象不到。但有些事情，你如果不做，你这一辈子心里会一直过不去。所以最后还是去做了。

我不是因为自己多勇敢。而是因为那个时候，你心里有一团火。

“台湾让我第一次真正感受到民主社会”

贾嘉：后来您骑自行车去了台湾，当时为什么会想到这样一种方式？

陈开频：因为我想让更多人知道大陆真实的情况。我不是为了作秀。

当时环骑台湾，其实过程很辛苦，但我在台湾看到了很多以前没真正感受过的东西。包括普通人的表达、媒体环境，还有社会讨论。我第一次真正感受到，一个民主社会是什么样子。“在台湾，我一直在为大陆民主发声”

贾嘉：您在台湾期间，也接触了不少媒体和社会人士？

陈开频：对。我在台湾期间，接受过一些采访，也一直在为大陆民主发声。因为我觉得，大陆很多真实情况，外面其实并不了解。我也接触了一些台湾的民主运动人士，还有一些政界人士。包括后来也见到了苏贞昌。大家会聊大陆的情况，也会聊民主社会的发展。我那时候感受很深。因为在台湾，很多事情是可以公开讨论的。“台湾的民主，让我看到另一种可能”

贾嘉：您怎么看台湾的民主制度？

陈开频：我觉得民主制度最大的好处，就是它能解决权力的问题。

哪怕他们内部有争吵、有不同意见，但至少权力是受到约束的。

领导人是可以被批评的。社会也允许不同声音存在。我那时候参与台湾一些社会活动，感触特别深。因为你会发现，一个社会如果允许人说话，它就不会越来越压抑。“很多人劝我别回大陆，但我还是回来了”

贾嘉：那后来为什么还是决定回大陆？

陈开频：很多人都劝我不要回来。但我最后还是回来了。因为我觉得，如果我突然走了，那我前面做的那些事情，好像就没有意义了。而且我始终觉得——

这个事情不是为了我个人。包括很多民主人士，很多站出来的人，其实都不是为了自己。只是觉得，一个正常人，看见不公平的事情，应该说句话。“现在最重要的是传播”

贾嘉：您觉得现在最大的困难是什么？

陈开频：现在最大的困难，其实是传播。以前写文章还有用。现在短视频、互联网传播更重要。因为现在很多年轻人，已经不怎么看长文章了。

但另一方面，他们对网络也盯得越来越严。所以现在特别需要懂技术的人、懂互联网的人、会做视频的人。这些事情非常重要。“只要更多人知道，我们就会相对安全一点”

贾嘉：那您觉得，外界还能怎么帮助你们？

陈开频：最重要的，就是让更多人知道。因为很多事情，一旦没人知道，就很危险。只要大家关注，我们相对就安全一点。最怕的是没有声音“我不想当英雄”。

贾嘉：如果未来真的发生改变，后人再回头看您的故事，您希望他们记住一个怎样的陈开频？

陈开频：我不希望别人把我当成什么英雄。我只是觉得，一个正常的中国人，在觉得事情不对的时候，应该站出来说句话。哪怕只是留下一点点痕迹。至少以后会有人知道曾经有人认真地活过。

结束语

采访结束时，已是黄昏。

电话那头的陈开频，声音里带着疲惫，却始终平静。他没有激烈的语言，也没有刻意把自己塑造成一个“悲壮”的人物。更多时候，他只是反复提到两个字——“良心”。

或许在很多人看来，他的人生原本可以完全走向另一条道路：继续经商、继续赚钱、继续过一种安稳而富足的生活。但他最终还是选择了站出来，哪怕明知道代价是什么。

在漫长的历史里，个人往往显得渺小。很多人的名字会被遗忘，很多故事也可能不会被完整记录。但时代真正发生改变时，人们最终记住的，往往并不是那些最强大的人，而是在沉默年代里，仍愿意开口说话的人。

陈开频说，他不想当英雄。

可恰恰是在那些普通人都选择沉默的时候，一个坚持说“这不对”的人，才显得格外珍贵。

也许历史不会立刻给出答案。

但总会有人记得，在那个压抑、复杂、充满恐惧的年代里，曾有人愿意为了自己相信的东西，付出代价，坚持到底。

本刊采访部记者贾嘉女士越洋采访陈开频前辈

编辑：钟然 校对：冯仍 翻译：戈冰

“I Just Follow My Conscience” – An In-Depth Interview with Chen Kaipin

Reporter: Jia Jia

Abstract: Chen Kaipin, a Zhejiang-based democrat living overseas, gave an exclusive interview to “Opposition Party,” reflecting on his experiences, including being imprisoned for hanging banners and cycling to Taiwan to speak out, and describing his journey of persisting in the pursuit of freedom and institutional reform.

Profile

Chen Kaipin was born on July 10, 1963, and graduated from the Department of Literature and Art of Zhejiang Public Security College (now Zhejiang Police Academy) in 1984.

After graduation, he worked in clothing design in Hangzhou, and later went into business, running companies, entertainment businesses, hotels, saunas, and other industries. He was also engaged in foreign trade between Dubai and Iran for a long time.

On June 4, 2008, on the eve of the Beijing Olympics, Chen Kaipin hung a giant banner on the roof of the Hangzhou Building in downtown Hangzhou. The banner was about 1 meter × 10 meters in size, and he dropped two boxes of leaflets from the roof, containing more than 400 copies.

The leaflets included statements such as: “Don’t let the Chinese nation become the last page of human civilization,” “The Communist Party and government corruption are the source of all evil,” and “It killed Hu Yaobang.”

After the incident, Chen Kaipin was sentenced to two years in prison for “inciting subversion of state power” and served his sentence in Hangzhou Prison and Shilifeng Prison.

In 2013, after Xi Jinping proposed the “Chinese Dream,” Chen Kaipin once again publicly expressed his political views.

He posted online, criticizing personality cult and the concentration of power, and stated that “China’s real problem is a systemic problem, not a problem of a particular individual.”

These remarks subsequently attracted attention.

Since then, Chen Kaipin has spoken out publicly on numerous occasions, including publishing articles on online platforms, giving interviews, and cycling to Taiwan, hoping to express his demands and political ideas through non-governmental communication channels.

For a long time, Chen Kaipin has continuously called for freedom of speech, civil rights, and institutional reform.

He believes that the core problem of Chinese society is not the people themselves, but the long-standing lack of normal power oversight and institutional constraints.

Chen Kaipin wrote in his autobiography:

“Hanging banners high, constantly speaking out, and repeatedly going to jail are also to awaken people.

Never yielding to power is my character and my philosophy as a person.”

Historical Background

This interview presents more than just one person’s life experience.

Since the 1990s, Chinese society has experienced rapid economic development. Urbanization, marketization, and the Internet wave have rapidly changed the fate of countless ordinary people.

Many people have gained a better life through economic growth and have expectations for the future.

However, at the same time, problems such as the widening gap between the rich and the poor, power imbalances, and the shrinking space for expression have gradually emerged within society.

Especially in the context of the highly developed Internet, ordinary people have for the first time gained broader access to information, which has also led to more and more people paying attention to public issues, social justice, and individual rights.

In this era, some people choose to remain silent, some choose to leave, and a few choose to continue speaking out.

Chen Kaipin is one of them.

His experience not only has a strong personal touch, but also reflects the thoughts of some ordinary Chinese people about the relationship between reality, the system, and personal destiny in a special era.

Interviewee: Chen Kaipin (Zhejiang China Democratic Party member)

Interviewer: Jia Jia

Interview location: “Opposition Party” magazine office

“A lot of people don’t understand. You could obviously have a very good life.”

Jia Jia: Mr. Chen, I also took a quick look at your experience, and I was really touched.

In fact, many people will have a question: Your original living conditions were quite good. Why did you choose such a path in the end?

Chen Kaipin: It’s a long story.

I graduated from Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts, where I studied fashion design.

Later, I went into business. I was involved in foreign trade, and I also opened companies, hotels, karaoke bars, and saunas.

In the early 1990s, I had already earned my first million in my life.

In those days, that was actually considered a very good life.

I have also been to many countries and seen many things.

So later, many people didn’t understand. They said, “You could obviously live a stable life, so why do you have to do these things?”

But I think that when you’re alive, there are always some things that you feel you “should do.”

It’s not a momentary impulse.

Rather, it’s a gradual realization that this society and this system have already developed major problems.

“I didn’t suddenly become an opponent. I used to believe in this system.”

Jia Jia: Did you have doubts about the system from the beginning?

Chen Kaipin: No.

In fact, I used to believe in it too.

Including our parents’ generation, we were all raised with the Communist Party’s education.

Many people really believed in it when they were young.

My family was also very well off. It was a family that everyone in the area envied.

The work, benefits, and living conditions were all quite good.

So when I later slowly realized the problem, I actually struggled internally for a long time.

Because you will find that Chinese people are obviously very smart and hardworking, but many things are becoming more and more wrong.

The problem is not with the people; the problem is with the system.

“When I hung the banner, I knew something would happen.”

Jia Jia: You later hung banners and distributed leaflets in Hangzhou. At that time, you had already thought about the consequences, right?

Chen Kaipin: I knew.

Of course I knew.

Especially in the period before the 2008 Olympics, the atmosphere was already very tense.

But at that time, I just had a feeling in my heart – there are some things that someone has to do.

If everyone is afraid, then many problems will never be spoken about.

At that time, I hung banners and distributed leaflets. In fact, I already knew that something would definitely happen after I went back.

But I still did it.

“Actually, I was also afraid, but it would be more uncomfortable not to do it.”

Jia Jia: So, are you afraid?

Chen Kaipin: Of course I’m afraid.

How could I not be afraid?

They could easily deal with us like squashing an ant.

There are many things that people outside can’t even imagine.

But there are some things that, if you don’t do them, you’ll never be able to live with yourself for the rest of your life.

So in the end, I still did it.

It wasn’t because I was so brave.

It was because at that time, there was a fire in my heart.

“Taiwan made me truly feel a democratic society for the first time.”

Jia Jia: Later, you rode your bicycle to Taiwan. Why did you think of such a method at that time?

Chen Kaipin: Because I wanted more people to know the real situation in mainland China.

I wasn’t doing it for show.

At that time, cycling around Taiwan was actually a very arduous process, but I saw many things in Taiwan that I had never really experienced before.

This included the way ordinary people express themselves, the media environment, and social discussions.

For the first time, I really felt what a democratic society is like.

“In Taiwan, I have been speaking out for democracy in mainland China.”

Jia Jia: During your time in Taiwan, did you also have contact with many media and social figures?

Chen Kaipin: Yes.

During my time in Taiwan, I gave some interviews and have also been speaking out for democracy in mainland China.

Because I think that many of the real situations in mainland China are not really understood outside.

I also had contact with some Taiwanese democracy activists and some politicians.

Including meeting Su Zhenchang later.

We talked about the situation in mainland China and the development of a democratic society.

I was deeply moved at that time.

Because in Taiwan, many things can be discussed openly.

“Taiwan’s democracy has allowed me to see another possibility.”

Jia Jia: What do you think of Taiwan’s democratic system?

Chen Kaipin: I think the biggest benefit of a democratic system is that it can solve the problem of power.

Even if there are disputes and differences of opinion among them, at least power is constrained.

Leaders can be criticized.

Society also allows different voices to exist.

At that time, I participated in some social activities in Taiwan, and I was particularly moved.

Because you will find that if a society allows people to speak, it will not become more and more oppressive.

“Many people advised me not to return to the mainland, but I still came back.”

Jia Jia: Then why did you still decide to return to the mainland later?

Chen Kaipin: Many people advised me not to come back.

But I came back in the end.

Because I felt that if I suddenly left, then the things I had done before would seem to have no meaning.

And I always felt that –

This is not for me personally.

This includes many pro-democracy people. Many people who have stood up are actually not doing it for themselves.

I just feel that a normal person should say something when they see something unfair.

“The most important thing now is to spread the word.”

Jia Jia: What do you think is the biggest difficulty now?

Chen Kaipin: The biggest difficulty now is actually dissemination.

In the past, writing articles was useful.

Now, short videos and Internet dissemination are more important.

Because many young people nowadays don’t read long articles much anymore.

But on the other hand, they are also keeping a closer eye on the Internet.

So now there is a particular need for people who understand technology, who understand the Internet, and who can make videos.

These things are very important.

“As long as more people know, we will be relatively safe.”

Jia Jia: Then, how do you think the outside world can help you?

Chen Kaipin: The most important thing is to let more people know.

Because a lot of things are very dangerous when no one knows about them.

As long as everyone pays attention, we will be relatively safer.

What I fear most is that there is no voice saying, “I don’t want to be a hero.”

Jia Jia: If there really is a change in the future, and future generations look back at your story, what kind of Chen Kaipin do you want them to remember?

Chen Kaipin: I don’t want others to see me as some kind of hero.

I just think that a normal Chinese person should stand up and say something when they feel that something is wrong.

Even if it only leaves a small trace.

At least in the future, people will know that there was once someone who lived with integrity.

Closing remarks

It was dusk when the interview ended.

Chen Kaipin on the other end of the phone sounded tired, but he remained calm.

He did not use strong language, nor did he deliberately portray himself as a “tragic” figure.

More often than not, he just repeated two words: “conscience.”

Perhaps in the eyes of many people, his life could have taken a completely different path: continuing to do business, continuing to make money, and continuing to live a stable and prosperous life.

But in the end, he chose to stand up, even though he knew what the cost would be.

In the long course of history, individuals often seem insignificant.

Many people’s names will be forgotten, and many stories may not be fully recorded.

But when the times really change, what people ultimately remember is often not the most powerful people, but those who were still willing to speak out during the silent years.

Chen Kaipin said that he didn’t want to be a hero.

But it is precisely when ordinary people choose to remain silent that a person who insists that “this is wrong” is particularly valuable.

Perhaps history will not immediately provide an answer.

But there will always be people who remember that in that oppressive, complex, and fearful era, there were people who were willing to pay the price and persevere for what they believed in.

Ms. Jia Jia, a reporter from the magazine’s interview department, interviewed Mr. Chen Kaipin overseas.

Editor: Zhong Ran Proofreader: Feng Reng Translator: Ge Bing