The Strange Story of the 80,000 Doves From China’s V-Day Parade
On September 3, 2025, Tiananmen Square was filled with more than troops and military hardware. At the height of China’s Victory Day parade, 80,000 white doves burst into the sky, drifting over the crowd in one of the day’s most striking moments.
The birds weren’t raised by the state. They came from ordinary pigeon keepers across Beijing—families and hobbyists who had loaned their flocks for the occasion. It wasn’t the first time, either. Four years earlier, at the Communist Party’s centenary, 100,000 doves had taken flight in the same square, with fanciers from districts like Dongcheng, Chaoyang, Fangshan, Xicheng, and Daxing supplying the birds.
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@channelnewsasiaChina concluded its Victory Day parade by releasing 80,000 doves and 80,000 balloons into the sky over Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Wednesday (Sep 3). The grand military parade marked the country’s 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Goose-stepping troops, armoured vehicles and roaring fighter jets took centre stage during the parade that was witnessed by a high-profile guest list including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. #china #chinanews #victorydayparade♬ original sound – CNA
Preparing thousands of doves for a parade doesn’t happen overnight. The process begins months in advance, starting with health checks. Workers from the animal epidemic prevention department run stool and blood tests on every bird, clearing only those fit to fly. Once that’s done, the real work begins. The pigeons are sent on long practice flights—30, 50, even 60 miles—so when the big day comes, they know exactly how to find their way home after circling above Tiananmen Square.
The effort draws in a remarkable number of people. In the Dongcheng district alone, more than 600 pigeon keepers volunteered their birds. Citywide, the count reached over 3,000 families. For them, it’s not just a favor to the state but a source of pride. Sun Peng, Secretary General of the Beijing Homing Pigeon Association, described it as a tradition: a chance for everyday fanciers to contribute to the pageantry, an honor that doubles as recognition from the government itself.
A Carefully Staged Release
The dove release wasn’t always in the hands of students. For years, experienced staff carried out the task, but at one parade, the job shifted to 100 cadets from the Beijing Police College. They spent two months rehearsing flag signals and commands so that every cage would open at the same instant. The birds weren’t the only ones drilled in advance—their handlers had a rehearsal schedule of their own.
When the moment came, it was staged for maximum effect. Toward the end of the ceremony, as balloons rose and patriotic music filled the square, the sky erupted with white wings. The symbolism was plain: peace, unity, and freedom set against the backdrop of tanks, missiles, and drones. For a few minutes, the parade’s hardest edges gave way to something softer and more human.
Why the Doves Matter
Image via iStockphoto/DanielPrudek
In a parade where nearly everything is state-controlled, the doves stand out. They aren’t bred for the military but come from backyard lofts, homing pigeons briefly enlisted for a national moment. Once released, they circle the square before heading back, usually within twenty minutes. Some, though, lose their way and never return, a few even ending up in rivers or ponds.
At the 80th Victory Day parade in 2025, the tradition reached its largest scale yet. Tens of thousands of doves lifted off alongside 80,000 balloons as Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un looked on. The weapons and marching troops dominated the ground, but overhead the white wings gave the display of power its rarest quality—a glimpse of humanity.