Fun facts from the Lianghui: China’s Two Sessions

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By CGTN's Martina Fuchs

It’s that time of the year again when China is about to lift the curtain on the most representative political gathering of 2017: the Lianghui.

Dubbed the “Two Sessions,” the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislative body, and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the pinnacle advisory body, are set to convene from early to mid-March in Beijing.

They are an important bellwether for assessing government policy, with around 3,000 provincial administrators, business leaders, and bigwigs from the Communist Party of China to attend from all over the country.

Here are some fun facts about this year’s political season:

Selfie sticks were banned from last year’s gatherings so that delegates could fully focus on their political duties. It was said that taking photographs with a selfie stick would harm the delegates’ image and distract them from work. Hence the “no stick policy." Reporters have also been barred from taking these devices into the Great Hall of the People.

Due to the anti-graft campaign and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s call for "honor to frugality and shame to extravagance," there will be no flowers traditionally placed in the hotel rooms of deputies and members, no welcoming ceremonies at airports and train stations, and no lavish dinner banquets during the sessions.

This year, measures will be taken to divert the traffic flow around the Great Hall of the People two hours before the meetings start and 10 minutes before they conclude. The police have also promised to divert traffic more efficiently, and forecast traffic flow information in advance through media, the Internet and outdoor information screens.

To minimize disturbance for local residents, Beijing police have also cancelled the practice of escorting deputies and members with police cars. Black Audi A6 sedans with tinted windows have become the automobile of choice for practically many participants of these political meetings. So watch out for them while cruising around Beijing.

Chairman Mao Zedong famously stated: “Women hold up half the sky." But this is a little different in politics. The two sessions bring about 5,000 delegates together. Official statistics show that the proportion of female deputies has stood at a little more than 20 percent since 1978.

Since 1983, press conferences have been open to foreign journalists and have been held for each NPC and CPPCC meetings.