China ‘most beautiful’ Shaolin-trained bodyguard in spotlight during French president visit

A female bodyguard, assigned by the Chinese government to protect the French first lady during her official visit with her husband to China in early December, went viral on social media for her tough and professional demeanour.\nKnown by her pseudonym, Yan Yuexia is referred to by Chinese internet users as “the most beautiful bodyguard,” although her appearance is one of many strengths, as reported by the news portal The Paper.\nWhile Brigitte Macron took part in public events in Beijing and Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province in southwestern China, Yan was captured on film remaining highly alert at all times, her eyes scanning the environment for any potential threats, the report stated.\n\nYan first gained online attention while serving Asma al-Assad, the wife of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, during her visit to China in September 2023. Internet users were drawn to Yan’s expressionless and focused demeanour as she accompanied the first lady.\nWhile Asma al-Assad mingled with a crowd of students and reporters at a university in Beijing, Yan stayed close, using her arms to shield her from anyone attempting to approach the VIP.\nIn February, Yan was dispatched to protect Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the then prime minister of Thailand, during her visit to China.\nWhile Shinawatra watched an ice hockey competition in Harbin, in northeastern China, media cameras captured Yan sitting near her, with her neck veins visibly bulging – a testament to her vigilance.\n\nAt the conclusion of the visit, Shinawatra briefly talked with Yan, nodding in appreciation for her work.\nShinawatra also shared a video on social media expressing heartfelt gratitude to Yan for her “thoughtful care and protection,” stating that she hoped to see her again at future events.\nDue to the nature of her profession, little personal information about Yan has been made public.\nIt is widely believed that she was born Xu Jin in Luoyang, a city in central Henan province, into a family with a martial arts tradition. Her age remains unclear.\n\nYan began learning martial arts at the age of six and was sent by her parents to receive professional kung fu training at the legendary Shaolin Temple.\nIn 2015, she was selected as an elite bodyguard in the Central Guard Bureau, part of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). Her responsibilities include serving both Chinese leaders and their foreign counterparts during visits to China.\n“A qualified bodyguard is not meant to be a celebrity, but to identify any risks in advance,” a security veteran, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Paper.\n\nYan has never took part in a media interview. However, mainland Chinese internet users discovered that in August 2020, as a delegate for the foreign leaders’ bodyguard squad at the MPS, she received an honourable award from the central government.\nYan’s story has sparked a wave of admiration among Chinese netizens.\n“She is a rose with thorns,” one online observer remarked.\n“She is more powerful than any female agent in films,” another praised.\nA third commenter quipped: “I would willingly be apprehended by her, haha!”\n