Cryonics is the practice in which a body is ‘frozen’ shortly after death with the hope, when technology catches up, they will be able to be revived.
Zhan Wenlian, who died of lung cancer aged 49 earlier this year, became the first person in China to be cryogenically frozen.
Ms Wenlian’s remains are currently in a giant tank filled with 2,000 litres of liquid nitrogen at Yinfeng Biological Group in Jinan, capital of East China’s Shandong Province.
The deceased was “volunteered” for the procedure by her husband Gui Junmin, who said that his late wife wanted to donate her body to science to “give back to society”, according to The Mirror.
The project was a collaboration between the Yinfeng Biological Group and from US firm Alcor Life Extension Foundation.
In cryonics, as soon as a person’s heart stops beating, they must be rapidly cooled – but not technically frozen.
If the person is frozen, their cells form ice crystals which is irreversible damage.
A cocktail of chemicals like glycerol and propandiol, as well as antifreeze agents, are commonly used in the procedure so the body can be cooled without freezing.
However, there is no evidence that people will one day be able to be revived.
Director Jia Chusheng of Yinfeng Biological Group said that although there is a chance the procedure will not work, it gives the husband and wife hope for the future.
She said: ”[Zhan] and her family are clear about the risks and the possibility that the procedure might ultimately fail.
“But as someone who has donated her body to science, she also gains hope of being revived one day.”
Her husband is extremely hopeful, however, and even plans to have himself preserved when he dies so that he can be reunited with his wife.
Mr Junmin said: “I tend to believe in new and emerging technologies, so I think it will be completely possible to revive her.
“If my wife wakes up, she might be lonely. I need to keep her company.”