China honour guards undergo rigorous training – precise marching, standing still for 3 hours

The Chinese soldier who went viral for remaining completely still as the US presidential aircraft, Air Force One, taxied nearby during a recent visit to China by Donald Trump, has spoken about the rigours of his job.Liu Zhencheng, 23, who serves in the Beijing-armed-police-corps" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="138041" data-entity-type="organization">Beijing Armed Police Corps, was on duty when the US delegation touched down in Beijing.The armed police follow the rules of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), receive the same treatment as the PLA and obey the leadership of the Central Military Commission like the PLA.“If I said I was not nervous at that time, it would not be true,” Liu, whose rank was not given, told Beijing-daily" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="117203" data-entity-type="organization">Beijing Daily.A row of ceremonial soldiers standing still with glasses of water on their heads during training. Photo: bjd.com“The aircraft was about 15-20 metres away from me. The roaring of its engines hurt my ears and the heatwave it made pushed my back. But I knew I should not make any move.”“I was looking firmly at the Chinese national flag flying 45 degrees above me. I was the first image the American visitors saw. So I was confident to complete this task well.“I do not only represent myself, but the whole group of China’s military officers and our country’s image on the diplomatic stage,” said Liu.Liu and his comrades in arms undergo tough training which includes standing firm in high temperatures, not blinking in face of strong winds and not making a single movement when surrounded by noise.Another group of soldiers with playing cards under their chins and glasses of water on their heads. This helps ensure the correct posture and stillness. Photo: bjd.comThey always wear the same type of uniforms and boots no matter how adverse the weather is. Sometimes they have to stand firm and still in one position for as long as 16 hours, the report said.In training, instructors will place half a cup of water on each of their heads and put a playing card under their chin to make sure they raise their head at the same angle and will not turn their head for a long time.The training is redolent of what China’s ceremonial soldiers endure before their stunning performances at significant military parades.China’s ceremonial soldiers are affectionately referred to as the “walking-Great-Wall” by the mainland public thanks to their perfectly orderly movements, achieved through rigid training.A group of soldiers shining their shoes to make sure they are spotless on parade. Photo: bjd.comStrict requirements include making sure that each step is 75cm wide with a deviation less than 1cm, keeping their eyes open at all times and remaining for at least three hours, according to state media CCTV.Further ReadingWhen on parade a team of ceremonial soldiers must be so perfectly aligned that if they are viewed from the side it appears that there is only one soldier in view.“To perform well when being tested, we must increase our intensity and difficulty in our regular training,” Zhao Xinhua, a ceremonial soldier from the PLA, told the media.They hang heavy water bottles from their arms hoping to build up strength so their arms can swing more swiftly while marching.A group of soldiers marching in formation at a training session. Photo: XinhuaThey also do exercises to boost their standing posture.Soldiers will also bind sandbags around their legs when training so that they can do goose steps more powerfully.The recent airport soldier’s story has generated a substantial discussion on mainland social media.“The awesome Air Force One simply serves as the backdrop for our soldiers,” said one proud internet user.“All those honour guards have worked so hard. They safeguard our country’s image and dignity,” said another.