Residential surveillance at a designated place (Chinese: 指定居所监视居住) is a form of detention regularly used by Chinese authorities against individuals accused of endangering state security. The detention occurs occurs at a location that is typically not disclosed to the family, and can include guesthouses, hotels, or disused official buildings.
The measure has been used heavily since 2015 against human rights lawyers, Falun Gong practitioners, and dozens of others accused of political offenses.
Those under residential surveillance may be held for up to six months and may only speak with other parties with permission of the police; in effect this means that they may be denied legal counsel and visitation.
Residential surveillance at a designated place became a technique widely available to police due to amendments in China's Criminal Procedure Law in 2012. Articles 72 to 77 of the Criminal Procedure Law describe residential surveillance being for investigation of crimes relating to “endangering state security,” “terrorism” or “serious crimes of bribery." This form of residential surveillance does not occur at the home of the suspect, but at a place designated by the police.