Chinese students are known for their excellent academic performance, and also for their excessive homework workloads.

For decades, the Chinese government and policymakers have made great efforts in reducing the excessive academic workload on primary and secondary school students.

Today, more and more schools in China would arrange diversified activities for students to minimize academic pressure.

Chen Yihan is a student of the second grade at Beijing Xicheng Kangleli Primary School. She said various extracurricular activities, such as the kite-making workshop, have greatly enriched her life after school. “While seeing my handmade kite fly in the sky, I felt a sense of achievement.”

As her study load reduces, Chen is allowed to have more time to pursue her interests, for example, playing the piano, dancing and riding horses.

“My generation lives a different life than those generations who were asked to pay most attention to textbooks,” she said.