Demand Rises For Female Bodyguards In China

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Subjects on the curriculum at the Tinjiao Special Guard and Security Consultant Company include reconnaissance and stamina training, martial arts, language and business etiquette.

The recruits must also hone their driving skills and practise having bottles smashed over their heads to prepare them for every eventuality they may encounter in their new jobs.

The training may be rigorous, but student Sun Yiyao enjoys it nonetheless.

She said: "In China, women are seen as a vulnerable group and society always looks down on them.

"However almost everyone looks at a female bodyguard in a different way. As a woman, I'm very proud to be able to protect a man or even a group of people."

A trainee female bodyguard in China has a bottle smashed over her head

Those who graduate can look forward to a lucrative career, earning at least 5,000 yuan (£500) a month, which is more than many of their male counterparts.

So what has led to the increase in demand for female protection officers?

The school's manager Chen Yongquin explained: "Many female entrepreneurs, celebrities and pop stars - as well as their family members - all need female bodyguards for protection.

"So we are particularly focusing on training female bodyguards from this year."

Around 30% of China's millionaires are believed to be women and a widening wealth gap has made safety an issue for the rich.

The demand for bodyguards of both sexes is likely to continue.