Over a hundred parents lined up at the gate to a local kindergarten, a night before its registration day in Fuyang, Anhui province. Many of them brought chairs, food, fans and mosquito repellants while waiting in the queue. /VCG Photo.

They were reported to be afraid that the school may not have enough space to enroll all the children, though the staff at the kindergarten told them not to worry. /VCG Photo.

The kindergarten is a state-owned school, which usually features better education quality with lower fees in China. /VCG Photo.

In recent years, the expansion of state-owned kindergartens was slower than the population growth, resulting in a big shortage compared to the market needs. Many parents have to compete for a spot at such kindergartens even before getting pregnant. /VCG Photo.