Rising Stars: China's art schools see surge in applicants

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Many across China are still in the midst Spring Festival celebrations. But a group of students is already gearing up for the "Yi Kao" - a series of entrance exams for the country's major art academies.

The prospect of becoming famous and featuring on the silver screen has driven many to rush for art colleges.

Each year, tens of thousands of aspiring young candidates in China undergo rounds of art school enrollment exams.

In Beijing, the Central Academy of Drama has seen a record number of candidates – over 67,000 – which is 16,000 more than last year.

Students queue up for an entrance exam outside the Central Academy of Drama, Beijing, China. /VCG Photo

Acting, Film & TV Art and Drama & Film Performance are among the most popular courses. While a new major called Theater Management has also received more than 24,000 applications.

But, the chance of everyone getting a seat is quite slim. Each year, only one in a hundred is admitted to these academies.

And for a shot at this coveted opportunity, many travel a long way to the capital city.

The number of applicants at the Beijing Film Academy and the Shanghai Theater Academy has surpassed last year's record.

The Beijing Film Academy has received a record-high of around 60,000 applications this year, while over 34,000 students applied for 484 spots at the Shanghai Theater Academy, surpassing last year's record of 31,000 applications.

(Cover: Candidates outside at the Beijing Film Academy. /VCG Photo)