It never occurred to me that I would be the one having my picture posted on social media at the annual two sessions.

Every year at the country's main political event, reporters compete with the newest gadgets in a kind of ritual.

New functions help in outdoing your peers, and sometimes the latest gadgets even make the headlines themselves.

On Tuesday afternoon, I arrived at the square in front of the Great Hall of the People with a fisheye camera strapped to the side of my head as reporters from across the country gathered for the opening ceremony of the third session of 12th CPPCC national committee.

China Daily reporter Zhang Yunbi shows his gadgets in front of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 3. The fisheye camera strapped to the side of his head has a wireless link to a watch on his wrist that would simultaneously livecast what the camera shot.[Photo by JIANG DONG/FOR CHINA DAILY]

"So what is that? Google glasses?" some asked. Last year, People's Daily introduced Google glasses to cover the two sessions.

What also intrigued my fellow correspondents was that the camera had a wireless link to a watch on my wrist that would simultaneously livecast what the camera shot.

My fellow reporters were amazed that such gadgets could free them from the trouble of looking at the monitor of a traditional camera all the time.

They came to me, took pictures with their cellphones and posted them on micro blogs or sent the pictures back to their headquarters.

But another amazing gadget enjoyed even bigger popularity on the square - a selfie stick.

Many reporters and celebrities were caught shooting videos or pictures of themselves using a handheld pole attached to a cellphone.

Cui Yongyuan, a famous television talk show host and political adviser, showed up with just such a selfie stick.

As reporters crowded around him, some of them asked Cui: "Are you taking a selfie?"

"No! I am photographing you guys!" Cui said with a grin.

Lei Jun, CEO of China's mobile phone giant Xiaomi, was caught on Wednesday morning making a V sign with his left hand and holding a selfie stick with the other.

"Superb Two Sessions Gadgets" soon became a catchphrase on news portals and social media, with scenes like those above included in offbeat picture collections.

I have to admit that the new camera really works, as its fisheye helps capture quite a few newsworthy and thrilling moments with its panoramic view, such as the sensational arrival of former basketball star Yao Ming.

Yao attracts lots of reporters and chaos emerges every year at the two sessions, but he rarely talks. But on Tuesday, following the ritual chaotic situation, Yao came up with a few sentences.

"My proposals are about reforming the physical education of elementary school students," he told us.

After returning to the office, my editors were satisfied as the fisheye camera captured the entire interview process. My colleagues congratulated me on being photographed and posted on social media.

Thank you new technology, which enables us to keep finding something fresh in the routine.

I will definitely be up to trying out a powerful new gadget if one is released next year.

Contact the writer at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn

China Daily reporter Zhang Yunbi shows his gadgets in front of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday. Jiang Dong / China Daily