Unless you’ve been living under a rock, or are quaintfully ignorant of the depressingly slow traffic around and inside of the second ring road, it’s obvious that the Third Session of the National People’s Congress opened on the 2nd of March. Over 2000 deputies flooded into the capital with the pomp and optimism appropriate to their appointed positions. The week will be filled with debate (or as close to debate as a one-party socialist system can muster), decisions and a lot of guanxi building. As a recent MBA grad from BeiDa’s BiMBA program, one prevailing how-to-succeed-in-China theme was the inherent relationship between decision-makers, decision-making, baijiu and food. I fancy myself an inquiring banquet epicurean, but I can’t admit to having any sort of guanxi that gets me a ticket to the big dance (or session, as it is). However, China Daily, being the independently-minded news source that it is, was privied to the intimate details surrounding this year’s National People’s Congress, including what types of tidbits you might catch the delegates noshing on. Treats like toasted pumpkin and baked sweet potato, beef and ox tripe in chili sauce and braised prawns were enjoyed by China’s best and brightest. Though I’m not sure that some of these dishes are my favorite bites, there are plenty of places around the capital that serve tasty Chinese fare, like Baoyue Chupin or Xihe Yayuan, fit for you and your high-powered circle of friends.