Fighting the cold

(China Daily)

Updated: 2015-02-13

PLA marines endure a monthlong training exercise, and pass with flying colors

More than 1,000 soldiers and officers from the PLA marines took part in a winter drill in the Shenyang Military Command's Taonan training base from Jan 8 to Feb 6. During the drill, troops experienced extremely cold weather at the base, which is in the Horqin Grassland in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Despite the harsh conditions, the marines and their equipment-which included 200 vehicles, amphibious armored tanks and weapons passed the stringent tests they were put through. The exercise ended with training goals accomplished and the marines' combat capability improved.

Eating breakfast ahead of a day's drill.

A marine toughs it out in below-zero temperatures during the drill.

Officers and soldiers rest in their tents after a full day's exercise.

A day's trek in icy weather during the monthlong drill in Horqin Grassland. Photos: Wang Jing / China Daily and Hu Kaibing / for China Daily

A soldier takes part in a battle scenario during the drill.

Comrades in arms polish their weapons ahead of a day's drill.

Practicing battle tactics at the Taonan training base.

Armored tanks have passed all the intensive testing the drill demanded of them.

(China Daily 02/13/2015 page7)