Dylan Walker takes a selfie in front of the Great Hall of the People on March 4.

　　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.

　　My role was to document these key moments, through words and images, and I realized that the two sessions are not just about formulating national policies — they are closely connected to the daily lives of ordinary people, affecting areas such as education, healthcare, employment, environmental protection, and technological innovation.

　　Standing in Tian'anmen Square during the two sessions for the first time, I felt the weight of responsibility that came with my role. However, as I prepared to conduct interviews, I found myself facing a new challenge — approaching and interacting with the NPC deputies and CPPCC members.