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From BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937 Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing.

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Presentation on theme: "From BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937 Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing."— Presentation transcript:

1 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

2 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

3 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

4 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

5 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

6 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

7 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

8 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

9 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

10 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

11 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

12 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

13 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

14 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

15 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

16 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

17 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

18 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

19 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

20 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

21 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

22 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

23 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

24 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

25 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

26 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

27 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

28 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

29 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

30 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

31 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

32 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

33 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

34 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

35 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

36 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

37 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

38 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

39 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

40 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

41 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

42 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

43 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

44 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

45 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

46 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

47 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

48 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

49 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

50 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

51 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

52 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

53 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

54 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

55 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

56 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

57 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

58 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

59 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

60 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

61 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

62 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

63 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

64 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

65 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

66 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

67 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

68 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

69 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

70 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

71 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

72 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

73 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

74 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

75 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

76 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

77 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

78 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

79 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

80 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

81 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

82 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

83 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

84 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

85 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

86 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

87 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

88 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

89 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

90 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

91 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

92 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

93 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

94 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

95 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army,aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

96 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

97 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

98 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

99 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

100 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist he joined the military the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

101 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist he joined the military the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

102 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

103 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

104 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

105 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

106 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

107 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

108 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

109 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

110 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

111 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

112 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

113 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

114 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

115 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

116 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

117 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

118 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

119 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

120 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

121 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

122 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

123 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

124 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

125 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

126 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

127 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

128 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

129 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

130 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

131 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

132 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

133 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

134 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

135 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

136 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

137 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News

138 from BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16736937
Gong Yifei swapped life as an armed police officer for a precarious career as a pole-dancing trainer - and he wants pole-dancing to be respected as an art. If you take pole-dancing seriously, two little rooms tucked away on the top floor of a shopping mall in Beijing are where you train. Apart from a few scantily-clad women, there is little to suggest this is the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole-dancing training centres, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club. Step inside and you see a forest of steel poles. A few women are warming up. One person stands out. He is the only man in sight and his name is Gong Yifei. "I'm 24 years old and have loved dancing since I was a child," says Mr Gong. "But lessons were out of the question. I only began as an adult after being mesmerised by an online clip posted by Luolan.“ Before taking the leap into the world of pole-dancing, Gong Yifei led a life that could not have been more different. Gong Yifei says he is proud of his military training With no training as an artist, he joined the military, the People's Liberation Army, aged 18 and from there the military sent him to train with the armed police force. There he showed enough potential in hostage rescue to earn a promotion to squad leader. He says his decision to abandon the battlefield for the pole baffled many of his dance teachers. He believes that if he had told his friends, they would have been dumbfounded. In contrast, Mr Gong's family has been surprisingly supportive. from BBC News


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