September 1 marks the start of a brand new school year in China. Students across the country celebrated the occasion with a special first lesson. /VCG Photo

As the fall semester begins, students harvested vegetables they had planted at the school farm in east China's Hefei city in Anhui Province. /VCG Photo

At another elementary school in Hefei, students learned to sort trash and recycle on the first day. /VCG Photo

In east China's Nanjing city in Jiangsu Province, first graders attended a Chinese traditional commencement ceremony to mark the first day of school. /VCG Photo

Students celebrated the first day of school in south China's Foshan city in Guangdong Province by creating vision boards of their desired future. /VCG Photo

A veteran soldier gave students a special first lesson on patriotism on a back-to-school day in a school in north China's Xingtai city in Hebei Province. /VCG Photo