Among the nearly 3,000 delegates to China's National People's Congress (NPC), one figure stands out for his height: Yao Ming, the 7ft 6in retired basketball player. The former Houston Rockets star has been a member of the NPC since 2023, sitting as an independent delegate.
Born in 1980, Yao is one of China's most recognisable sports figures. After retiring from basketball in 2011, he focused on roles in China, including serving as president of the Chinese Basketball Association from 2017 to 2024. He is also a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), an advisory body that meets alongside the NPC each March.
At last year's NPC, Yao submitted a proposal for a digital detox programme for children, encouraging them to quit their phones for 24 hours. 'It's somewhat similar to spring or autumn outings when we were kids. In the past, it was about getting children out of the classroom environment; now it's about getting them away from the digital environment,' he said.
Yao's height poses practical challenges: most furniture in China is too small for him. At the NPC, he has been seen sitting alone in a row, hunched over a desk that cannot accommodate his knees.
