The mother, who only gave her surname Yu, posted the photo on social media WeChat. It shows her son asleep while doing homework. She then questioned if she should wake him up or not, considering he had been in school for all day, but there was much more homework to be done - even though he is only in primary school grade three. Her question soon sparked netizens’ sympathy and concerns that children in China have too much pressure in their early years. /Hangzhou Metropolitan News Photo

“I have seen a lot expectation from adults for children, but people need to be aware that children are facing a lot of competition in their childhood,” Yu wrote, and listed her son’s homework for one night. Apart from regular tests in Chinese, English and math class, her son was asked to spend 30 minutes doing exercises. Yu indicated that many of his classmates have to work till 11pm every day, and get up at 6.50am the next day. /Hangzhou Metropolitan News Photo