” But we decided we cannot be too commercialised, and stuck to our original goal” . ,
” We don’t force ourselves to picture ( for the sake of content )”, he added. We want to allow more people know what we’re doing by sharing our actions with them on social media.
Other former national flag carriers have even taken to social media to share their personal transactions and activities, including 2am wake-up calling and gruelling training maneuvers like standing, marching, and holding weapons for extended intervals in cold weather.
Zhang Zixuan, 31, is a previous Tiananmen Square symbol carrier who runs a famous Douyin accounts with over 883, 000 fans.
Zhang also posts updates on his farm family’s daily life, cooking videos, and other changes, but his website audience tends to be more interested in his military-related videos.  ,
In one video, Zhang spoke about his military occupation, during which he participated in more than 7, 700 flag-raising festivities. Why he left the military was a question that was left by interested internet users.  ,
” What a compassion” and” Are you confident this will not affect your career development”? were some of the responses he highlighted. But, Zhang responded that there was “nothing to feel compassion about”.  ,
” I was raised by farming traditions, and I’m doing things that I’m excited about”, Zhang said.  ,
” I’m just an ordinary veteran, I have my own dreams and places I want to go to” . ,
Although he is actually retired from the military, the symbol bearer-turned-influencer continues to promote’ nationalist education’ through some of his articles. In one picture, which garnered nearly 25, 000 activities, he visited a museum and discussed China’s treatment in the Korean War in 1950.
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A FLAG Recipient
Growing up in Jiangxi, Zeng not considered , enlisting in the military until he watched a favorite TV variety show featuring stars in military services. Inspired, he enlisted in 2015 at the age of 17 and went on to become a symbol carrier at Tiananmen Square, a prominent place under the PLA’s honour watch.
Throughout his five-year military stay, Zeng completed almost 3, 000 flag-raising jobs. He even went through 10 months of training and rehearsals for the 2019 China National Day Parade.  ,
” I felt so far pride”, Zeng said. I was aware that I wasn’t really representing myself; I’m proud to be a part of the PLA, to be able to symbolize the nation, and to have participated in that parade.
Zeng has some advice for those who want to follow in his feet and add the honor guard. There are very strict physical requirements that must be met, and the “process is quite selective” is true.  ,