Beijing: At 5 am on Sept 22, Beijing seemed asleep. The metro system had not yet started operating and the streetlights gave off only a dim glow. However, several people were already entering Tian’anmen Square. They had arrived early to grab the best spots to watch the national flag being raised, considered a must-see ceremony for visitors to the capital.
At 5:58 am, a formation of 66 honor guards set out from the Tian’anmen gate in the Forbidden City. They marched with legs extended when they crossed the Golden Water Bridge, which connects the Forbidden City and Chang’an Avenue. With military precision, each soldier took exactly 96 steps with a stride of 75 centimeters before the formation reached the flag position. At 6:01 am, as the first rays of light pierced the morning mist, the national flag was unfurled and hoisted while the national anthem played, the pageantry heralding a new day. The scene happens every day of the year, regardless of rain or snow, heat or cold. Generations of soldiers have vowed to guard the national flag with their lives, and they have overcome demanding physical challenges to make sure the ritual is flawless every morning.
The duty is undertaken by The Guard of Honor of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. It is not easy to become a member of the unit, and joining the elite team that raises the national flag has even stricter requirements. All soldiers selected in the national flag guard unit have to be between 180 cm and 190 cm tall and meet other physical requirements, including neck length, shoulder width and leg shape.
– The Daily Mail-China Daily News exchange item
