Guards practice to equal 'almost perfect' hosts

An army marches on its stomach, Napoleon said, and 1,000 foreign soldiers stationed at a military base in Beijing ahead of Thursday's parade marking the 70th anniversary of victory in World War II have a choice of Chinese food or their national cuisine to get them through the rigorous preparations.

The soldiers, based in Changping district, 50 kilometers from Tian'anmen Square, are replacing calories with noodles, dumplings and dishes from their own countries as they practice from 7 am to midnight.

Military formations or honor guards from 17 countries are training at the Changping base and will march in Tian'anmen Square on Thursday in alphabetical order.