He Qichun, 34, has lived within the high walls of Shanghai Qingpu Prison for 10 years.

Once the head of a street gang who was sentenced to 19 years behind bars, he is now the captain of a 118-person drumming team and the chief designer of the prison's Website.

"We've learnt to understand and help each other while practicing drumming," he said.

"Similar to what has happened in Shanghai, the changes here are also world-shaking," he said. "Now we can enjoy what a normal man enjoys. We have a TV set in each cell. We can call our families during the day and listen to the radio or CDs in our free time. All these freedoms would have been unimaginable before."

He, together with several other prisoners, has taken online college courses.

"Changes in our educational environment are the greatest. The Internet has opened a gateway to the outside world for us," He added.

Prisoners can study many kinds of arts and skills, such as calligraphy, Chinese painting, jade carving, and taijiquan (shadow boxing).

"Cultural education helps these once-astray sheep say goodbye to their formal selves and expect a promising new life," said Xie Youbao, an official at the prison.

As the only local prison to hold foreign inmates, the Qingpu Prison is seeking ways to better help this special group of prisoners. The prison offers courses in Chinese history, culture and law.

(Shanghai Daily May 21, 2004)