On June 7, 2023, the National College Entrance Examination, also known as the gaokao, officially began in China with a record-breaking number of 12.91 million students taking part. In Beijing alone, over 58,000 students participated in the exam across 18 districts, 100 exam centers, and 2,029 exam rooms. This was the first gaokao to take place after the COVID-19 pandemic was classified as a "Class B infectious disease." At the Beijing No.18 High School and Beijing No.8 High School, parents and students arrived early to prepare for the exam. The No.18 High School set up 20 exam rooms, including one for vocational education students and 19 for regular high school education students, with a total of 563 students taking the exam at this location. In addition to the 20 exam rooms, the school also set up three backup rooms for students who may have health issues or other concerns on the day of the exam. Photos: Cui Meng and Li Hao/GT