The cult has spread false accusations in the public arena and used international IP calls and mobile phone messages to spread their doctrines.

A US consular official in Shenyang visited the hospital on March 22, claiming to be interested in traditional Chinese treatments for thrombosis, and was given a full tour of the facility, said Zhang Xu, another hospital official.

Media such as Japan's NHK, Hong Kong's Phoenix TV and Takung Pao newspaper have visited the hospital to look at the facilities, said the official.

"Seeing is believing. We welcome national and international media to our hospital," he said.

Zheng Bin, deputy head of Sujiatun District where the hospital is located, denounced the rumour as "groundless" at the news conference.

Zheng said the hospital had some Falun Gong followers as patients, but none were in detention.