Art exams kicked off in east China’s Shandong Province on February 5, 2017. About 7,000 students tested their painting skills in a 200,000-square-foot hall of the Shungeng International Convention Center in Jinan, the capital city of Shandong. /CFP Photo
New students have become a major force this year, who are in fierce competition to become future actors, directors, and artists. /CFP Photo
For some popular majors, only one out of every 200 candidates will be admitted into the country's art institutions. /CFP Photo
Art exams are different from other national college entrance exams in China, with the latter requiring higher academic scores, and usually taking place every June. /CFP Photo