As the “9.3 Military Parade” on September 3, 2025 approaches, various districts in Beijing have begun recruiting temporary security guards to monitor key areas such as power poles and pedestrian overpasses. Some residents of Beijing see this as a sign of the times being unsettled.
The temporary positions are mainly focused on the period from August 8 to September 4 (some positions extended to September 5), with demanding work intensity. Most positions require continuous operation, and those who quit midway will have their wages deducted. According to screenshots of recruitment information circulating on Chinese social media platforms like WeChat and QQ, the recruitment is mainly targeting healthy males aged between 18 and 55, with height requirements of 168 cm or above.
Multiple screenshots from the internet show that working hours for applicants are generally 12 hours, with overtime pay for exceeding the designated time. Registration and reporting locations include Anding Town Government, neighborhood offices, security guard pre-training bases, and the Tiantan Police Station. Applicants are required to confirm via phone before adding for communication on WeChat, and must obey management to ensure completion of the designated work period.
Personnel from the Taiyang Palace Street Office in Chaoyang District of Beijing confirmed on August 8 that they are recruiting temporary security guards and mobilizing retirees to voluntarily join the security team for the 9.3 Military Parade. “We have been hiring security guards here for a while, paying a daily wage of 180 yuan. Those in good health can earn over 200 yuan, and they need to patrol the streets at night, pay attention to whether there are any provocative slogans on the power poles, and if they find anyone behaving suspiciously, they should intercept them directly and report to the police station.”
Regarding the number of security personnel participating in the 9.3 Military Parade, the unnamed street office personnel mentioned the unprecedented scale. She said, “There are a lot of people involved in maintaining stability for this event, my daughter works at the street office and heard that most retirees in their community have been mobilized. About 200,000 to 300,000 people have been mobilized in the entire Chaoyang District, and an estimated one million people in Beijing are participating.”
Mr. Gao, a Beijing resident, stated during an interview that communities are indeed mobilizing. “Our community grid workers are asking if any outsiders have visited our homes recently, including relatives and friends. They specifically requested us to inform distant relatives that from now until the end of the military parade, we should temporarily refrain from accepting or inviting visitors from other provinces.”
Mr. Gao also mentioned that, to avoid the impact of traffic restrictions on daily life, he has decided to travel to the southern regions later this month. “We are planning to leave Beijing on the 20th and travel to Nanjing, Suzhou, Shanghai, and Hangzhou. I remember during the large military parade in 1995, there were many restrictions on movement, fewer cars on the roads, and life was very inconvenient. Such events are quite bothersome.”
Regarding why pedestrian overpasses and power poles are listed as key protection targets, Mr. Chen, another Beijing resident, believes that “it indicates that this era is not peaceful. Despite the many high-rise buildings here claiming to be leading, I have seen online incidents where people intentionally drove to hit pedestrians, attacked with knives, or randomly killed people, leading to retaliation against society. Not long ago, someone wrote opposing slogans at the entrance of our compound, but I am not sure of the specific content.”
During the June 4 period this year, multiple democratic demands were written on a wall in Beijing. Pictures showed phrases written in ink on the wall such as “Tanks cannot crush the truth, freedom will ultimately defeat tyranny” and “Freedom of speech, ballot politics,” alongside a slogan saying “Democracy will return triumphantly!” signed by “6.4”. This incident quickly sparked attention and discussions on social media.
Netizens worldwide expressed support and respect in the comment sections on overseas social media platforms: “I really hope that one day someone can write these words in sky blue #66ccff ink…,” “Salute to the nameless heroes,” “More and more brave individuals, hopefully the hope grows,” “Admiration,” and other remarks, reflecting the public’s concern for freedom of speech and democratic demands.
Mr. Chen, who works as a teacher, mentioned that the recruitment of temporary security for the military parade reflects Beijing’s mobilization capacity and scale of security forces, showcasing the strictness and tense atmosphere in the event preparation. The wall writing event during June 4 has once again ignited discussions about political freedom and historical memory among the public, becoming an important focus of public opinion.