BEIJING (TVBS News) — Former basketball player Yao Ming stood out at the opening ceremony of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress of China in Beijing on Tuesday (March 5), towering over the 3,000 representatives from across the country.
At 7 feet 6 inches tall (2.29 m), Yao was seated separately from politicians, rural Communist Party members, and university professors in the Great Hall of the People. Listening to the opening remarks by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the ex-Houston Rockets player marked a significant presence.
China's political landscape is punctuated by two major meetings annually: the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), collectively known as the "two sessions."
This year's session began with the national anthem and a report from Li Qiang, contrasting with last year's focus on President Xi Jinping’s third term. Yao, who started his career with the Shanghai Sharks and later played for the NBA's Houston Rockets, was once the tallest active player in the league.
Despite claims of being the tallest living man at 8 feet 3 inches by Guinness World Records, Yao is officially 7 feet 6 inches. He represented China at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, leading to a 10th-place finish and earning the nickname “the walking Great Wall.”
In February 2017, Yao was unanimously elected chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association.