From pole position

Members, deputies, reporters and tourists use selfie sticks to catch the moments at the heart of Beijing during the two sessions. [Photo/Agencies]

When China's annual legislative and political advisory sessions are on the capital's center stage, these top political conferences get attention through entertaining and innovative ways.

For example, the selfie stick, which has recently taken tourists and outdoor sports enthusiasts worldwide by storm, has finally squeezed into the conference halls via reporters without cameramen and celebrity representatives who are too busy to take group photos at set times. Originated by GoPro camera users among the extreme sports community, the selfie stick has become widely used with smartphones thanks to its convenient ability to squeeze more people into the lens. GoPro cameras are even popular among professional photographers at the conference, who always seek new and different shooting angles.

On JD.com, China's major online shopping website for electrical appliances, a selfie stick usually sells from 50 to 100 yuan ($8-16). There are more than 100 different brands available. At a time when the spread of news is measured in seconds, these self-service devices have become more reliable than heavy machines. Perhaps the gadgets' arrival at the meetings was inevitable.