For three decades, China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) special force has been morphing into a combat-ready, full dimension elite unit.

It is well known for its high intensity training that even the toughest soldiers describe as "hell." 

Since the Gulf War, special operations have become a major tactic to deal with strategic crises. China's first special force unit was formed in the late 1980s.

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Different units of the special force also formed their own specialties based on the terrains they are stationed on: Some are tested by the sea and are experts in securing beachheads, some know their way around jungles or deserts, and some are adapted to extreme conditions on plateaus. 

Special forces have made critical contribution to the nation in peacekeeping, anti-terrorism, security and disaster-relief missions.  

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"Special operation is an elite strike under the support of the entire combat system. It's commanded directly by the strategic commander of the battle, usually under abnormal circumstances, using special tactics to achieve a strategic goal," said Zhang Rongchuan, an officer of army staff, the PLA.

Intense training programs include carrying 20-plus kilograms of combat equipment, marching 190 kilometers in the field where trainees were ambushed and captured in a prisoner camp simulation and grilled by drillmasters. The purpose of the simulation is to see if trainees can still hold on to their duty when physically challenged to the extreme.  

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"This is what real battlefield would look like. The 'week of hell' follows one principle, which is to eliminate some cadets. Only by high elimination rates can we make sure that what's left are the elites," said drillmaster Wang Kangkang.