Medics bite chopsticks in two after practice

Medical team members practice during a training for the parade on Sept 3. [Photo/people.cn]

"Bethune International Medical Team", a unit named after Canadian doctor Norman Bethune who served with China's Eighth Route Army during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, will march in the parade on Sept 3, the only all-female unit.

Tian Ou, 56, the first woman general in China and the only female general in the parade will lead the unit in Tian'anmen Square.

"We are not at our best age or best physical condition to do this," Tian said, "but it's an honor and a responsibility to join the parade as a soldier."

She strictly followed training instructions to strike the perfect standing posture, competing against other much younger soldiers.

Once she and other young soldiers almost collapsed after standing for three hours and her legs swelled badly.

She ignored a doctor's advice to rest for two days and showed up at training the next day to keep practicing.

She kept a notebook to record all the problems the coach pointed out and practiced with the reflection from a mirror in her dormitory after training finished.

Liu Lele, another member of the unit, joined the army when she was in college in 2009. She feels proud that she inherits her family tradition to join the army since her grandfather was a veteran and grandmother was military medic.

Different from other units, medical team members carry a bag on one shoulder which could cause team members to lean to one side.

To stand in perfect posture, Chang Jiabao and others put a water bottle on their head, forcing them to be steady and balanced. They also wear materials to keep their back straight.

Many people grip a chopstick in their mouth to practice a standard smile. "Many practice too much and bite chopsticks in two," said Chang.