China's National People's Congress (NPC) is the largest legislature in the world with almost 3,000 deputies. But members have no real power and meet only once a year to rubber-stamp the Chinese Communist Party leadership's plans.

These politicians aren't paid unless they serve on the Standing Committee, and even then the salary is modest. They do, however, get free flights and accommodation as well as a daily living allowance when they travel to Beijing for 10 days in the spring for the annual meet-up. Critics say the lack of adequate compensation fuels corruption by incentivising deputies to seek unofficial income. And graft remains a persistent problem within the system, despite Xi Jinping's efforts to stamp it out.

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