The first trial of leaders of the banned Falun Gong group will begin tomorrow in Haikou, Hainan province.
Xinhua said Song Yuesheng, Jiang Shilong, Chen Yuan and Liang Yulin had been charged with 'using an evil religion to violate the law'.
The four allegedly defied the July 22 Ministry of Public Security ban on the Buddhist-based sect and organised 'illegal gatherings of Falun Gong practitioners', including a gathering in a Haikou park on August 8 attended by 183 people.
The suspects were arrested on September 28.
Song is also charged with attempting to escape police custody.
Beijing sources said the central Government had called on local governments to begin trials of defiant Falun Gong leaders within the next two weeks.
At least four other leaders were expected to be tried for leaking state secrets related to the banning of the group. Anyone found guilty on these charges faces the death penalty.