Yan Cong

Photographer

yancong.visura.co

The Military Parade

Location: Beijing

Nationality: China

Biography: Yan Cong (b.1991) is a researcher and independent photographer based in Amsterdam. Her current research interests are platform, datafication, ethical AI, culture production and labor. Yan is the co-founder of Far & Near , a newsletter... MORE

The Oriental Plaza fenced for ...re the security of the parade.

The Oriental Plaza fenced for security reasons on September 1, 2015, two days before the military parade. The plaza,Â a shopping mall and office in Wangfujing, Beijing, ChinaÂ was ordered to shut down for three daysÂ from September 1 to ensure the security of the parade.

An armed policeman safeguards t...ys before the military parade.

An armed policeman safeguards the Oriental Plaza, a shopping mall and office in Wangfujing, Beijing, China on September 1, 2015, two days before the military parade.

A newsstand in Beijing shut do...losed until September 4."

A newsstand in Beijing shut down on September 1, 2015, two days before the military parade. The sign reads "Closed until September 4."

An empty Internet cafe in Wang...ys before the military parade.

An empty Internet cafe in Wangfujing, Beijing on September 1, 2015. Entertainment activities were ordered to stop in central Beijing two days before the military parade.

Two vegetable vendors stay at ... the market is already closed.

Two vegetable vendors stay at their stall till the last minute before they're asked to close at 3pm September 1, 2015. Some other stalls in the market is already closed.

People take photos as they wat...kou Street, September 3, 2015.

People take photos as they watchÂ the aircrafts from the military parade flying past on East Zhushikou Street, September 3, 2015.

A boy looks through his binocu...kou Street, September 3, 2015.

A boy looks through his binocular when he's waiting to see the aircrafts from the militaryÂ paradeÂ on East Zhushikou Street, September 3, 2015.

Two girs hold China's fla...kou Street, September 3, 2015.

Two girs hold China's flagÂ on East Zhushikou Street, September 3, 2015.

The owner of a shut-downÂ conv...ads "reopen on 4th."

The owner of a shut-downÂ convenient store in Wangfujing area stands at the door looking out on September 1,Â 2015, two days before the military parade. The sign on the door reads "reopen on 4th."

A security guard safeguards th...y parade on September 3, 2015.

A security guard safeguards the empty West 3rd Ring Road at midnight on August 27th, 2015. Beijing sees a never-seen-beforeÂ effortÂ to ensure securityÂ during the two weeks beforeÂ the military parade on September 3, 2015.

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Public Story

The Military Parade

Copyright Yan Cong 2022

Updated Sep 2015

Location Beijing, China

Topics China, Military, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics, security, Society

For the first time in 70 years, China decided to celebrate the victory of WWII with a military parade. During the run-up to the event, Beijing got ready with a never-seen-before level of ubiquitous security personnel-- police, armed police, security guards, security volunteers, as well as traffic restrictions, markets shut-down, etc., all in the name of security.

The following photos are the result of a personal edit from an assignment for Caixin.com.