Soldiers in the Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), whose disciplined marching and striking presence have graced military parades in Vietnam, Russia and Belarus this year, undergo strict training and meticulous preparations to present a polished and professional image across the world.
At one of the PLA Guard of Honor camps in Beijing, soldiers spoke to China Global Television Network (CGTN) about their training for these prestigious parades.
Shi Bin, who is 33 years old, was the flag bearer of the PLA's formation at a military parade held in Belarus this May to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.
"In my daily training, I usually add 10 more kilograms of weight to the top of the flagpole. This is because in our overseas missions there are many uncertainties, such as the environment, the site, and the wind direction, which can make a change in the weight of the flag. So for us flag bearers, we need to be even stricter in our daily training," said Shi.
Zhang Zeyang is also an experienced soldier who has participated in many overseas military parades, including in Belarus and Pakistan in 2024.
So far, he has participated in over 300 missions with the Guard of Honor.
"Before our missions, we usually take two to three hours to arrange our uniforms and carry out maintenance. That includes sewing, ironing and repairs," he said.
"I think that attending overseas military parades showcases the image of our great country, as well as the PLA's rigorous work style and discipline and good formation," he continued.
No matter whether in Vietnam, Russia, or Belarus, the appearance of the PLA Guard of Honor often stirs excitement on the streets.
During a practice session before a military parade in Moscow in May, Liang Hao was shown in a video that has been watched many times covering the muzzle of his firearm with his left hand as the formation passed close to local residents.
"It was subconscious behavior. At that time, we were marching with parade steps and the street was a bit narrow. There were lots of people watching. I took that action to make sure nobody got hurt. So I took a subconscious move to cover the muzzle of the firearm with my hands to protect the masses. I watched the videos online after returning from abroad. I believe I was simply fulfilling my responsibility," he said.
The Guard of Honor, as the public face of the PLA, has exacting standards for its members, who on average are 1.87 meters tall and aged around 22.
When marching in parades, every step they take should be precisely 75 centimeters.
The so-called "eight parts” that they need to keep aligned as they march include their hands, legs, chest, and the brims of their hats.
Chinese PLA Guard of Honor train hard to present professional image
