Gaokao 2025: China's national college entrance exams Day 1 highlights

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Gaokao candidates high-five their teachers after the first session of the national college entrance exams ended in Binzhou, Shandong on June 7, 2025. /VCG

Parents of examinees wear red cheongsam and pose for photos with a police car plated "985" in Suqian, Jiangsu on June 7, 2025. Wearing cheongsam has become a revived fashion trend among mothers of candidates in recent years. "985" generally refers to key universities in China. /VCG

High school teachers in Hezhou, Guangxi share encouragement and blessings with students via blessing banners on June 7, 2025. /VCG

In Suqian, Jiangsu, parents hold sunflowers outside a school gate to see students off for the exam on June 7, 2025. In Chinese, "sunflower" is a homophone for "ranking top" or "being among the best." / VCG

Police in Zaozhuang, Shandong quickly issue a temporary document paper for a student who forgot to bring his resident ID card on June 7, 2025. /VCG

A candidate has red ribbons tied in her hair for good luck in Jinhua, Zhejiang on June 7, 2025. /VCG

After the first paper of the gaokao ends, candidates gradually walk out of an examination room in Xuchang, Henan on June 7, 2025. /VCG

As high school students in China picked up their pens on June 7 for the start of the country's college entrance examinations, known as the gaokao, heartwarming rituals and community support cheered them on. The examinations will continue across the country for a few days.

Red has been a dominant theme of the exam period: Parents donned cheongsam, or qipao, for the homophonic Chinese word meaning "winning," while students tied red ribbons in their hair for good luck.

Sunflowers, (homophonic in Chinese for "ranking top"), have been widely spotted in parents' hands, symbolizing their hopes for academic success of their children.

Acts of solidarity also stood out: Teachers and students exchanged high-fives after the first session of exams, and police swiftly assisted a forgetful candidate by issuing a temporary ID within minutes.

These scenes – blending cultural symbolism with practical care – illuminate the gaokao's role not just as an academic challenge, but a collective moment of shared expectation and support for young people.