Evelyne&Jeff’s Excellent China Adventure Series. Months spent traveling the back roads of China. Short videos with transcripts, captioned photos, articles and critical commentary. The REAL Chinese people you do not know!
Shenzhen
Note: I lived and worked in Shenzhen, 2016-2019. Amazing place!
Introduction
It is hard to describe the unbreakable bond between the Chinese and their People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Together, they are bonded to the Communist Party of China (CPC) in an self-reinforcing, three-way bond, as in the image below,
Yes, it’s an overused “team-building” meme, but it perfectly illustrates just how the Chinese people, the Party and PLA are in total solidarity. One of the big reasons is because, according to the Chinese constitution, the PLA is not directed by generals, the president, premier or congress. The PLA answers first and last to the CPC.
In 1928, Mao Zedong and his associates in the Red Army, during the Chinese Civil War, made sure that the army would exemplify the ideals of the Communist Revolution and the CPC, by laying down very strict rules and expectations of each and every soldier vis-à-vis the citizens. These rules emphasize respect for the civilian population and adherence to fair treatment in all interactions,
Three Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention
Three Rules of Discipline:
- Obey orders in all your actions.
- Do not take a single needle or piece of thread from the masses.
- Turn in everything captured.
Eight Points for Attention:
- Speak politely.
- Pay fairly for what you buy.
- Return everything you borrow.
- Pay for anything you damage.
- Do not hit or swear at people.
- Do not damage crops.
- Do not take liberties with women.
- Do not ill-treat captives.
Western soldiers have a terrible history of exploiting the power they hold over local peoples, including violence against residents and property, rape, massacres, robbery, squatting, theft and setting up black markets to make money. I have written that wherever there are Western soldiers, every day is another My Lai (the infamous massacre in Vietnam).
During the Chinese Civil War, 1925-1949, Chiang Kai-Shek’s KMT soldiers took this dark path too, alienating the local populations due to their brutality, lust and cupidity.
Western militaries that contribute to UN Peacekeeping forces around the world are infamous for all the just-mentioned behavior. And, go figure, local populations love PLA peacekeepers, because of their Mao-esque discipline and high moral standing – staying true to the Three Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention and protecting the locals.
These rules are only lived by if the soldiers and officers have grown up being inculcated with high family, social and political values. It starts with the amalgam of Confucism-Daoism-Buddhism, continues with Mao’s high expectations and on to aspiring to the probity and letter of law in the nation’s and CPC’s constitutions. Politically, all officers are members of the CPC and he vast majority of all enlisted members of China’s PLA are firebreathing members of the CPC. Loyalty to the Party and the People!
In China, these nobel ideals start with children, the vast majority of whom are members of the Communist Youth Association (CYA), especially during primary school, Kindergarten-Grade 6. CYA’s after-school classes cover the tenets of Confucism-Daoism-Buddhism, communism-socialism, Marxism, Leninism, and the principles of all of China’s leaders, from Mao Zedong to Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping, whose writings, speeches and calligraphy are published and widely available across the country.
If you are wondering why there is so much accountability and personal responsibility to family, community, Party, PLA and Baba Beijing among the people, it starts here.
Judeo-Western warmongers should remind themselves of the Chinese’s pedagogy, faith and sense of justice, when lusting for a hot conflict against them,
Above: Judeo-Westerners should be careful about what they wish for… Sino-grandparents and children will be loading guns and bringing food and materiél to PLA bases. About a billion of them will guard their cities, towns, China’s’ borders and coastlines! When it comes to defending their communist-socialist revolution, which gives them their freedom, diginity, properity and high quality of life, Chinese people will proudly die for the country’s ideals.
Patriotism, love for the Party and PLA start with the children and the adults who care for them
#1a-1b: banks, offices, sidewalks, bus/metro stops, sign boards, malls, EVERYWHERE in Shenzhen and all other Chinese municipalities, the focus on happy, healthy youth is intense.
Above, one poster on the street and the other in my bank. It shows two students in the Communist Youth League (because they are wearing red kerchiefs) saluting the flag and the reader, and it says:
“Let’s talk about upholding trends in civilization” – communal benefit advertising
ALL SOCIETY CARES FOR AND LOVES MINORS
Core Socialist Value Concepts in three categories,
National: Prosperity, Democracy, Civility, Harmony.
Social: Freedom, Equality, Justice, Rule of law.
Individual: Patriotism, Dedication, Integrity, Friendship.
By: Shenzhen Communist Party Propaganda Supervisory Committee.
If only the West cared so much about its children…where many tens of thousands are kidnapped each year to be trafficked into Judeo-prostitution, pornography, slavery and organ harvesting cartels. Judeo-forced flooding of mass migrants keeps these pipelines of young flesh full, with billions of your preferred currency ending up in Tel Aviv’s coffers.
Above: CPC in the middle, interlocking the people the PLA.
The Chinese people love the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The PLA loves all Chinese citizens. The CPC is the foundation.
#2: the Great Wall motif symbolizes protection from outside invaders, as does the protector lion and stele in Tiananmen Square. On top of the stele, which represents the firmament, there is a Hou (犼), a mythical, protector man-eating creature, resembling a dog. The Mandarin script says,
让军人成为全社会尊崇的职业 = Make being a soldier a profession revered by all of society.
让退役军人成为全社会尊重的人 = Make veterans people who are respected by all of society.
This is the wall in front of a PLA facility in the middle of downtown Shenzhen. The red electric sign in the background says,
听党指挥 能打胜仗 作风优良 = Obey the Party’s command, be capable of winning battles, and maintain excellent conduct.
#3: the symbol in the middle of the red star is two Chinese words: “eight” and “one” (八 on top of 一). The founding of the PLA was on August 1, 1927, during the CPC’s Nanchang Uprising (Jiangxi Province’s capital) against the KMT, whose memorial Amir Khan and I visited this last summer (https://radiosinoland.com/2025/07/27/amirjeffs-excellent-china-adventure-series-2025-hunan-jiangxi-fujian-and-shaanxi-provinces-red-tour-short-videos-captioned-photos-articles-and-commentary-the-real-chinese-people-you-don/). Thus, the 8/1 Red Star is the symbol seen on all of China’s military hardware, from uniforms, to planes to ships.
国防教育主题街 = National Defense Education Theme Street.
蛇口街道武装部 = Shekou Sub-district Armed Forces Department.
蛇口街道退役军人服务站 = Shekou Sub-district Veterans Service Station.
#4: remember, this is a public street in Shenzhen and you can see these kinds of motifs everywhere you go around the country. PLA soldiers and missles protect the people from foreign threats. Think Judeo-Westerners.
加强全民国防教育 = Strengthen national defense education for all citizens.
增强全民国防观念 = Enhance the national defense awareness of all citizens.
#5a-5b: this mural has a very important historical reference, 18 September 1931. This is the Mukden Incident. The Japanese had been occupying Northern China since 1895, after gaining victory in the first Sino-Japanese War. Wanting to imitate Western colonialism and imperialism, which they had been parroting since their Meiji Restoration in 1868, and lustful for the rest of China’s vast human and natural resources, they needed a pretext to invade southward. They created a false flag by blowing up a Japanese-occupied railroad track, blamed the Chinese for it and a new phase in China’s civil war began.
The soldier blowing his trumpet symbolizes alerting the people to the trick and invasion, and the hammer and sickle show the CPC and Red Army coming to the rescue.
陈祥榕同志事迹 = Deeds of Comrade Chen Xiangrong
陈祥榕, 男, 福建屏南人, 2001年12月出生, 2019年9月入伍, 中国人民解放军某边防团战士, 2020年6月在加勒万河谷斗争中, 营长陈红军带人突入重围营救团长, 陈祥榕作为盾牌手战斗在最前面;当听到有人喊“营长连长被围攻了”, 陈祥榕迎着对手冲去, 用身体和被砸坏的盾牌护住营长连长。陈祥榕两次冲入敌阵奋力营救, 英勇战斗、视死如归, 直至壮烈牺牲。2020年6月, 被追认为中国共产党党员。2020年7月, 中央军委给陈祥榕烈士追记一等功。=
Chen Xiangrong, male, from Pingnan, Fujian Province, born in December 2001, enlisted in September 2019. He was a soldier of a border defense regiment of the People’s Liberation Army. In June 2020, during the Galwan Valley conflict (versus India in the Aksai Chin-Ladakh region), Captain Chen Hongjun led his men into the encirclement to rescue the regiment commander. Chen Xiangrong, serving as a shield bearer, fought at the very front. When he heard someone shout, “The company commander and battalion commander are under attack,” Chen Xiangrong charged head-on towards the enemy, using his body and a broken shield to protect the battalion and company commanders. Chen Xiangrong charged into the enemy lines twice to rescue them, fighting bravely with disregard for his own life, until he died a heroic death. In June 2020, he was posthumously recognized as a member of the Communist Party of China. In July 2020, the Central Military Commission awarded Comrade Chen Xiangrong the First-Class Merit posthumously.
(Text below the photo)
清澈的爱，只为中国 = Pure love, only for China.
18岁的陈祥榕写下的战斗口号 = A battle slogan written by 18-year-old Chen Xiangrong.
陈红军同志事迹
原文: 陈红军, 男, 甘肃两当人, 1987年3月出生, 2009年6月入伍, 2009年4月入党, 中国人民解放军某边防团营长。该同志作为边防斗争一线指挥员, 对党忠诚、忠于使命, 身先士卒、冲锋在前。2020年6月在加勒万河谷斗争中, 看到团长祁发宝受到攻击重伤倒地, 营长陈红军率领官兵冲入“石头雨”“棍棒阵”, 英勇解救遭袭昏迷的团长祁发宝, 为掩护战友、迟滞外军攻击陷入包围, 仍奋力反击, 因寡不敌众壮烈牺牲。2020年7月中央军委追授陈红军烈士“卫国戍边英雄”荣誉称号。=
Deeds of Comrade Chen Hongjun
Chen Hongjun, male, from Liangdang, Gansu Province, born in March 1987, enlisted in June 2009, joined the Communist Party of China in April 2009. He was a battalion commander of a border defense regiment of the People’s Liberation Army. As a frontline commander in border defense struggles, he was loyal to the Party and his mission, leading by example and charging ahead. In June 2020, during the Galwan Valley conflict, upon seeing Regiment Commander Qi Fabao being attacked and seriously injured, Battalion Commander Chen Hongjun led his officers and soldiers into a hail of stones and clubs, bravely rescuing the unconscious Regiment Commander Qi Fabao. To cover his comrades and delay the enemy’s advance, he became surrounded but continued to fight back fiercely until he died a heroic death due to being outnumbered. In July 2020, the Central Military Commission posthumously awarded Comrade Chen Hongjun the honorary title of “Hero for Defending the Country and Guarding the Border.”
(Text below the photo)
党把自己放在什么岗位上, 就要在什么岗位上建功立业 —— 陈红军
Wherever the Party places me, I will achieve success and make contributions in that position. —— Chen Hongjun.
祁发宝同志事迹 = Deeds of Comrade Qi Fabao
祁发宝, 男, 甘肃天祝人, 1978年3月出生, 1997年12月入伍, 1996年5月入党, 现任中国人民解放军某边防团团长。该同志长年坚守高原边防斗争一线, 始终冲锋在前、不怕牺牲, 组织指挥部队多次控阻外军越线图谋。2020年6月, 外军公然违背与我方达成的共识, 悍然越线挑衅。按照处理边境事件的惯例和双方之前达成的决定, 团长祁发宝本着谈判解决问题的诚意, 仅带几名官兵前出交涉, 却遭到对方蓄谋暴力攻击。祁发宝组织官兵一边喊话交涉, 一边占据有利地形, 与数倍于己的外军展开殊死搏斗。增援队伍及时赶到, 官兵们奋不顾身、英勇战斗, 一举将来犯者击溃驱离。外军溃不成军, 抱头逃窜, 丢下大量越线和伤亡人员, 付出了惨痛代价。2020年7月, 中央军委授予祁发宝“卫国戍边英雄团长”荣誉称号。=
Qi Fabao, male, from Tianzhu, Gansu Province, born in March 1978, enlisted in December 1997, joined the Communist Party of China in May 1996. He is currently the regiment commander of a border defense regiment of the People’s Liberation Army. For many years, he has steadfastly guarded the frontline of high-altitude border defense struggles, always charging ahead and unafraid of sacrifice, organizing and commanding his troops to repeatedly thwart foreign military attempts to cross the line. In June 2020, the foreign military openly violated the consensus reached with our side and brazenly crossed the line to provoke. Following the customary procedures for handling border incidents and the prior agreements between both sides, Regiment Commander Qi Fabao, acting in good faith to resolve the issue through negotiation, went forward with only a few soldiers to engage in talks, but was met with a premeditated violent assault by the other side. Qi Fabao organized his soldiers to negotiate while simultaneously securing advantageous terrain, engaging in a life-or-death struggle against a foreign force several times their number. Reinforcements arrived promptly, and the soldiers fought fearlessly and heroically, decisively defeating and driving away the intruders. The foreign military was routed and fled in disarray, abandoning numerous personnel who had crossed the line and suffered casualties, paying a heavy price. In July 2020, the Central Military Commission awarded Qi Fabao the honorary title of “Heroic Regiment Commander for Defending the Country and Guarding the Border.”
(Text below the photo)
致敬！英雄团长 = Salute! Heroic Regiment Commander.
对峙时干部站前头、战士站后头；吃饭时战士不打满、干部不端碗；野营时战士睡里头、干部睡风口
During standoffs, officers stand at the front, soldiers at the back; during meals, if soldiers’ bowls are not full, officers do not pick up their own; during field camping, soldiers sleep inside, officers sleep at the windy entrance.
—— 祁发宝所在团不成文的“规定” = —— An unwritten “rule” of Qi Fabao’s regiment.
#6a-6c: above, I have translated three of about a dozen posters of modern military heroes. Most of them are young martyrs, but a couple are still living. These big signboards are on a busy public street in Shenzhen, in front of a PLA facility. They give you a taste of how the Chinese honor the PLA and memorialize soldiers.
These kinds of posters for martyrs, veterans and civilians doing good deeds are found everywhere across China, even down to the smallest towns and villages. I get the impression that for the general public, outside military circles, French and Americans don’t give much of a hoot about their veterans and fallen, who are officially honored on Armistice Day, 11 November.
In China, they are lauded and honored every day of the year, on the streets, in parks, plazas, museums, town squares, books, magazines, newspapers, on radio and TV. The fact that the Chinese sacrificed 36,400,000 citizens and soldiers to win liberation in 1949 from the Satanic West, imperial Japanese and fascist KMT+USA may have something to do with it.
To put things in proper perspective, all World War II Allied deaths across Europe, including civilians and military numbered 960,000. That is 1/38th as many deaths compared to China, or 2.6%. Not the same magnitude. China’s sacrifice was almost 1% of the entire population.
In fairness to the West, World War I, a completely contrived, Judeo-British/French colonial-imperial gameplan to destroy Germany (Docherty’s and MacGregor’s two defining books explain the whole sordid timeline, available in English, French and German), the French sacrificed 5% of their national population, which didn’t recover until the advent of World War II. Sadly, in spite of the grotesque official narratives for both World Wars, Westerners fought for coloniaism, imperialism and the Judeo-Bank of London. In both World Wars, the Chinese fought for freedom and dignity.
#9: translated below, the messages speak for themselves. This panel is on an ordinary street in Shenzhen. This kind of patriotism does not exist in the Judeo-West, for its peril.
The monument in the lower left is in communist-socialist style, heavily influenced by Soviet revolutionary art: soldiers, workers, everyday citizens, struggle, sacrifice, martyrs and war. The man in front looks like Lei Feng, a celebrated hero of the revolution, whom I’ve written about in The China Trilogy (https://radiosinoland.com/2025/09/09/special-publication-of-an-updated-key-chapter-frombig-red-book-on-china-chinese-history-culture-and-revolution-mao-zedong-father-of-chinese-communism-and-20th-centurys-most-influentia/).
To connect yesterday with today, on the right is a silhouette of a modern PLA soldier.
强国梦、强军梦相融共生 国家和军队有梦想才有未来 = The dream of a strong nation and the dream of a strong military are intertwined and coexist; only with dreams can the country and its military have a future.
中国梦 强军梦 = Chinese Dream, Strong Military Dream.
富国与强军, 是发展中国特色社会主义、实现民族复兴的两大基石。= Enriching the country and strengthening the military are the two cornerstones for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and realizing national rejuvenation.
召之即来 = Ready to answer the call at any moment.
来之能战 = Capable of fighting upon arrival.
战之必胜 = Guaranteed to win in battle.
###
Other series by boots-on-the-ground China Writer travelers reporting on real China and real Chinese people!
Stay caught up with Amir&Jeff’s Amazing Adventure, journeying through the wilds of inner China, where foreigners don’t go! Short videos, captioned photos, articles, critical commentary.
State of the Chinese Union 2025: based on five months recently journeying across the country’s backwoods + 17 years living there. Speech given to Samui Real, Thailand, 13 August 2025
ADVENTURES IN ASIA WITH LADYB, FASHU, LAOLAO AND GONGGONG Series (focused on Taiwan Province and the rest of Asia)
Jeff’s many articles about Taiwan Province
Evelyne&Jeff’s Excellent China Adventure Series. Months spent traveling the back roads of China. Short videos with transcripts, captioned photos, articles and critical commentary. The REAL Chinese people you do not know!
Frans Vandenbosch: Final reflections on an extraordinary voyage
https://yellowlion.org/asia-trip-2025-part-11/
###
I contribute to