During China’s May Day holiday, a five-day national break surrounding International Workers’ Day and one of the country’s busiest travel periods, videos circulating online showed heavy security deployments around Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The footage showed rows of black-clad personnel and police officers forming what observers described as a “human wall,” keeping tourists at a distance from the symbolic political center of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The footage, widely shared on Chinese social media platforms, appeared to show visitors standing behind barricades while security personnel lined the interior perimeter near Tiananmen Square and surrounding government areas in the country’s capital.
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Heavy security presence
One video posted online on May 3 showed what appeared to be an unusually dense security presence in and around the square. According to observers, guards were stationed at close intervals while visitors were prevented from approaching key areas directly.
Additional footage filmed near Zhongnanhai, the heavily guarded leadership compound used by top Chinese officials, showed groups of black-clad men marching in formation along the compound’s red walls, while others stood guard near Xinhua Gate, the main entrance to Zhongnanhai.
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Online commenters speculated that the men were members of China’s elite internal security units, often informally referred to as “Zhongnanhai bodyguards.” Some social media users mocked the display as political theater, while others described it as a reflection of the Chinese Communist Party’s long-standing emphasis on internal security and social control.
Guards formed a ‘human wall’
A separate video circulating online attempted to explain the identity of the personnel. According to the video’s host, the guards are believed to be affiliated with China’s Central Guard Bureau, an elite security organization responsible for protecting top CCP leaders and sensitive state facilities.
The bureau reportedly operates under the authority of the CCP Central Committee’s General Office while also maintaining links to the military command structure. Its core operational force is often associated with the Central Guard Regiment, which is tasked with protecting senior officials, major government institutions, and politically sensitive locations such as Tiananmen Square.
The personnel are said to undergo extensive screening and training, including political vetting, combat preparation, reconnaissance, and emergency response drills. According to the video, security deployments are typically expanded during politically sensitive periods, including major national holidays, annual political meetings, and large-scale public events.
One detail that drew particular attention online was the black umbrellas often carried by these guards. According to past Chinese media reports cited in the video, the umbrellas used by the guards are not ordinary rain gear. They are reportedly made with reinforced materials and designed for defensive and emergency-response purposes.
Some reports claim the umbrellas contain additional tactical features, including reinforced handles and concealed self-defense equipment. However, these claims are difficult to independently verify. The video host suggested that the decision for guards to wear plain black clothing rather than military uniforms is intended to maintain a lower-profile security presence while still projecting authority.
China’s expanding security state
China has long maintained tight security around Tiananmen Square and Zhongnanhai, particularly during politically sensitive anniversaries, public holidays, and periods of social tension. Analysts say visible security deployments often serve both practical and symbolic purposes: Preventing disruptions while reinforcing the image of state control.
Others argued that the visual impact itself may be intentional, with the black uniforms designed to create an atmosphere of intimidation and deterrence.
The videos have renewed discussion online about the visibility of China’s domestic security apparatus in public spaces. Over the past decade, Beijing has significantly expanded its surveillance and security infrastructure, particularly in politically sensitive areas. From facial recognition systems to heavily monitored public squares, security has become an increasingly prominent feature of everyday life in China’s major cities.
