A mother-of five in central China was so determined to find the five men involved in her husband's murder that she spent 17 years tracking them down.

Her husband Qi Yuande was killed in January 1998 by a fellow villager who suspected his wife Li Guiying of reporting him and his family for breaching the one-child policy.

Li Guiying, also a village official then handed her findings to the police who detained the men. The final two men were handed their charges on September 30, reports the People's Daily Online.

A loving family: Li Guiying (left) pictured with her husband (right) and children

Dedicated: Li Guiying spent 17 years successfully finding those behind her husband's murder

Qi Yuande worked as a schoolteacher in a small village in central China's Henan province.

He was confronted by the fellow villager named Qi Xueshan who suspected his wife who worked as a village official had reported him and his family for breaching the one child policy.

Qi Xueshan started attacking Li Guiying with bricks before calling on his four brothers for help. They then tried attacking her with cleavers.

Qi Yuande came to his wife's aid but he was soon overpowered by the men who stabbed him to death.

Li Guiying pictured with her three children travelled across the country to find the killers

Li Guiying was severely injured and hospitalised. The five men went on the run.

Once out of hospital, the mother dedicated her life to finding the men and ensuring that her husband had justice.

She went to over a dozen provinces across China and searched for clues. She took photos of the men with her and went around villages asking people if they had seen them.

Two of the suspects including Qi Xueshan were captured in Beijing and Shanxi province not long after the murder. They were sentenced to 15 years in prison.

A third suspect was captured in Xinjiang province. He was handed the death sentence however a higher level court overrode the decision. The case is currently being heard.

And in June this year the final two suspects were arrested and charged with premeditated intentional homicide. She is awaiting the final verdicts for the pair.

People have been talking about the woman's story on social media site Weibo.

One user wrote: 'Her story should be made into a movie.'

While another commented: 'She is such a strong woman.'