Guangdong is known for being at the forefront of reform on the mainland and a key testing ground for pilot policies. It is also the cradle of the mainland's most outspoken media outlets and its most significant grass-roots democratic movement.
But journalists at the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing who expected that to be reflected in more dynamic and less censored press conferences tackling bolder questions from a diverse range of media were disappointed.
In fact, the Yunnan delegation outshone Guangdong's.
Non-mainland media outlets were only granted access to one session with the Guangdong delegation and one press conference by Governor Zhu Xiaodan - both far from upbeat. And most opportunities to ask questions were given to mainland reporters.
Provincial party chief Wang Yang gave a couple of lively quotes during a Guangdong delegation session last Monday, but his most colourful ones, including his pledge to petition the central government for more reform, were released at other sessions open only to the mainland media.
During Zhu's one-hour press conference last Friday, he took about 20 minutes to answer each question - limiting the number that could be asked. They were also open-ended and non-specific, allowing Zhu to read from previously scripted answers.
