It is now the graduation season for China's college students. China has changed a lot since it reintroduced the university and college entrance exam, the Gaokao, 41 years ago, but graduation remains a bittersweet affair for Chinese college graduates, mixed with the excitement of a new life, and the sadness of parting ways with friends. Let's hear how the people of Beijing feel about their college years and graduation.

One word to describe your graduation.

MS. MAO GRADUATED IN 1982 "Excited."

YU HONGKAI GRADUATED IN 2001 "Sad."

PAN YANG GRADUATED IN 2001 "Elated."

"Hopeful."

What memory do you have of your graduation?

MS. MAO GRADUATED IN 1982 "I took the first Gaokao after it was reintroduced. The first year of the reform, so the system was still not very complete. It was very hard for us."

PAN YANG GRADUATED IN 2001 "I felt I had been studying for so many years, now I finally graduated, and could do what I'm interested in the real world. I could work and make money and buy the things I want."

YU HONGKAI GRADUATED IN 2001 "We all knew that we would be working in cities all over China, so it would be hard for us to see each other again. It was very touching when we said goodbye and waved farewell at the train station. Some girls cried. We all cried. That scene still lingers in my head."

GU YANBO GRADUATED IN 2016 "College was fun. I studied but I also had a lot of friends. We could hang out and do many fun things. Now every day is just a routine of going to work. Maybe it's just another stage of life. Something that everyone has to go through.