A peek into China’s top ‘bodyguard factories’
Chinese firms are turning to more-experienced Western partners to expand Beijing’s security capacity amid growing demand as the new Silk Road projects abroad appear fraught with danger
In the grounds of Zhongzhou Bodyguard in southern China, a circular terrace is filled with blooming sunflowers, and a 300kg tractor tyre. The flowers are there for decoration, the tyre is all about business.
For new recruits to this bodyguard boot camp, taking part in intense physical workouts – sometimes involving giant rings of heavy duty rubber – is, like mastering the art of hand-to-hand combat, knife-throwing or marksmanship, all part of a day’s work.
For the past 11 years, private security firm Zhongzhou Bodyguard has provided minders for thousands of clients, including many of China’s top businessmen. Its new recruits, often ex-military or recent graduates of sports schools, spend a minimum of three months honing their skills at the facility in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, before – if they’re good enough – being dispatched on assignment.
One of the company’s top trainers is Wang Yuhao, a former soldier with 12 years’ military experience who was once part of a team assigned to protect then Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
He joined the company in 2011 and now, aged “nearly 40”, splits his time between looking after elite businesspeople at home and abroad, and teaching others how to do so.
Wang, or “Mr Sunglasses” – he rarely removes his shades “even when I’m in the shower” – said his expertise covers everything from firearms to explosives and fieldcraft.
“During my years in the army, I probably spent more time holding guns than I did holding chopsticks,” he said.