Xian, China – Feng Jianhan, 9, puts on his olive-coloured army uniform, cap and white satin gloves each morning, and goosesteps across his living room.
As the national anthem plays in the background, he stands by a home-made pulley system, solemnly hoists the Chinese national flag and raises hand to cap in a salute.
Dubbed the “national flag baby” by Chinese media, the boy has captivated the country, appearing on videos and TV shows, especially in the run up to Communist China’s 70th anniversary on Tuesday.
“I’ve made raising the flag my daily habit,” said Feng. “Just like brushing my teeth or washing my face, you can’t not brush your teeth or wash your face.”
The boy’s father, Feng Xie, said Jianhan’s habit started when he was a toddler. Upset one day, he stopped crying when he heard China’s national anthem playing on TV during a flag-raising ceremony.
