A gaokao examinee is wished luck on June 5, 2023, as she heads to the examination venue in Chongqing's Youyang Tujia and Miao autonomous county. (HE YI / CHINA DAILY)

A record 12.91 million students across China will attend this year's college entrance exam, also known as the "gaokao," which is scheduled to start on June 7. 

Teachers give high-fives to students who will attend the national college entrance exam at Dongyang Middle School in Zhejiang province, June 5, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Students from Yongxin Middle School in Yongxin county, Jiangxi province, hang up Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) as a symbol of "high scores" for the college entrance examination, June 5, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

High-school seniors throw paper planes to beat the stress before the exam in Huaibei city, Anhui province, May 31, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Students participate in games to beat the stress before the exam in Huaibei city, Anhui province, May 31, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Students participate in games to beat the stress before the exam in Hengyang, Hunan province, May 29, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

A group of drivers volunteer to offer free rides to the gaokao attendees in Huai'an, Jiangsu province, June 5, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

High-school seniors from Wushan Dachang Middle School take the bus to get to the examination venue in Chongqing, June 5, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)