Chinese parliament deputies gather in Beijing - in pictures

Yi Yongchun from Inner Mongolia. Although ethnic minorities account for less than 14% of deputies, they attract much of the media coverage because many wear traditional costumes to the meeting Photograph: Dan Chung/Dan Chung for the Guardian

Pan Jianhua, head of Rudong county in Jiangsu province, eastern China. Almost 3,000 deputies from around the country are attending the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing. The vast majority are men. Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Feng Yuping is a traditional opera performer from Liaoning province.
Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Huang Lei is a member of the Gaoshan minority from southern Fujian province. Overall there are 699 female deputies in the congress Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Zhang Guibai from Yunnan province, south-west China, is among almost 9% of deputies who are members of the Peoples' Liberation Army. The state news agency Xinhua says the group is more diverse this year: the proportion of women has risen to 11% Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Li Songquan is from the Lahu minority, also from Yunnan province Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

A Tibetan representative, whose name in Chinese is Jiayong Nima Photograph: Dan Chung/Dan Chung for the Guardian

Meng Lanfeng from central Hunan province. Around three million people belong to the Dong minority. Photograph: Dan Chung/Dan Chung for the Guardian

Sheng Hui from Hunan is deputy director of the China Buddhism Association Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Xia Yujie from Anhui in eastern China. Women might seem relatively few at the congress, but they are better represented than in other areas of Chinese politics: no woman has ever made it to the politburo standing committee, the top political body. Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Xu Wenyou from is a police delegate from north-eastern Liaoning province Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Zhang Guizhong is from the 1.25 million-strong Hani minority of Yunnan province Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Zhang Yukun, from Liaoning, is also chief executive of the Shengjing bank Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Zhu Zhengfu is a lawyer from southern Guangdong province Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian