A dog's life: In Beijing's Forbidden City, no holiday for canine patrol
A guard dog waits to attend a daily training session at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee
BEIJING (Reuters) - As China ushers in the Lunar Year of the Dog, hundreds of millions of Chinese are traveling to their hometowns to spend the week-long national holiday with their families.
But for the 23-dog patrol that guards China's famous Forbidden City in the heart of Beijing, there will be no break.
"There is no difference if it's Chinese New Year or not. Burglars don't have holidays, we don't either," said Chang Fumao, 59, the head of the canine patrol, who has trained the dogs for more than 30 years.
Security staff of canine patrol squad Zhang Yu and a guard dog patrol at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee
"We have to be on guard 24 hours a day."
Built in the early 17th century, the Forbidden City and its fabled 9,999 rooms are surrounded by a moat and covers 74 hectares (183 acres) on a site to the north of Tiananmen Square.
The palace-turned-museum boasted 16.7 million ticket sales last year. Once home to China's emperors, it is now a trove of national treasures, including a 3,000-year-old bronze vase covered in intricate carvings and a 12th century five-metre-long painting of daily life in the Song Dynasty.
Head of canine patrol squad Chang Fumao sits next to a guard dog after a daily patrol in the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee
There have been few reports of theft over the years, but the Communist Party leadership has been careful to preserve the palace, a national symbol of China.
Even during the Cultural Revolution, when fanatical Red Guards smashed and stole relics en masse, the Forbidden City was placed under special guard and escaped largely unscathed.
Chang started his career as a clerk in the museum when he was 20 and is set to retire next year. He has slept and worked next to the dogs' kennels for years.
Security staff of canine patrol squad Zhang Yu (L) and Chang Fumao patrol with guard dogs at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee
"We have a quite simple life. I feed the dogs in the morning, clean the kennel, train the dogs, feed them again, clean again, and train again," said Chang, as the dogs carried out a training session, attacking a guard in a protective padded suit.
When the crowds depart, he gets the rare privilege of seeing the ancient palace halls and vast walkways devoid of people.
"At night I will bring (the dogs) out to patrol the Forbidden City when all the visitors are gone," said Chang.
People visit Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 13, 2018. Picture taken February 13, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee
"Only the wind and birds in the trees are our companions, it feels quiet and lonely."
(Reporting by Reuters Television; Writing by Pei Li; Editing by Karishma Singh and Neil Fullick)
A guard dog attends a daily training session at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeGuard dogs attend a daily training session behind Wumen Gate of the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeA guard dog is trained at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeGuard dogs attend a daily training session at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeA guard dog waits to attend a daily training session at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeSecurity staff of canine patrol squad Zhang Yu and a guard dog run for a daily training session at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeA guard dog is pictured in a cage at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeHead of canine patrol squad Chang Fumao touches the foot of a guard dog through a cage at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeHead of canine patrol squad Chang Fumao patrols with a guard dog in the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeA guard dog waits to attend a daily training session at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeGuard dogs attend a daily training session at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeHead of canine patrol squad Chang Fumao takes a guard dog for a daily training session at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeA lock is pictured on the gate of a yard for guard dogs at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeGuard dogs attend a daily training session at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeA guard dog attends a daily training session at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeSecurity staff of canine patrol squad Zhang Yu (behind) and Chang Fumao patrol with guard dogs in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony of the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason LeeSecurity staff of canine patrol squad Zhang Yu and a guard dog rest after a daily training session at the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee
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