From visitor to voice: reporting at the two sessions

As a young American, I had stepped into the Great Hall of the People twice before, but this time was different.

In 2016, I was a university student and tourist, captivated by its solemn atmosphere, and in 2017, I attended a concert by renowned Chinese singer Jiang Dawei, experiencing the unique blend of music and architecture. This time, however, I participated in the two sessions as a bilingual host and journalist for China Daily 21st Century Media, bearing the responsibility of recording and reporting. My emotions were completely different from my previous visits.

My attention shifted from the symbolic significance of the building itself to the voices and stories emerging from the two sessions. The Great Hall became the central stage of China's political life, where National People's Congress (NPC) deputies and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) offered advice on national development.