... was born in 1956 in Wuhan (Hubei Province). During the Cultural Revolution in the late sixties, Lei was, like millions of other young people, sent to work in the countryside. After his military service he became a factory worker. In 1978 he was admitted to study history at the Jilin University in the nort-eastern city of Changchun, where he received a bachelor's and a master's degree. In 1985 he obtained a post as a researcher in modern Chinese history at the prestigeous Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Lei has written numerous books and articles on topics like the history of thought and the role of intellectuals in recent Chinese history. He regularly takes part in international academic meetings and is sought for interviews by Chinese and foreign media.

Traveling to Beijing in 1979, during his university holidays, Lei Yi got in contact with the Democracy Wall Movement, and - using a pseudonym - he contributed several articles for the independent journal "April 5th Forum".