Students enter the exam venue at Beijing No 4 High School on June 7, 2023. (WEI XIAOHAO / CHINA DAILY)

This year's college entrance examination, also known as gaokao, kicks off on Wednesday across China.

While parents of gaokao attenders prepare everything for their children, people from all walks of life are doing their own part to ensure that it runs smoothly for students.

A student in Guangzhou, Guangdong province prepares to take gaokao on June 7, 2023. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

Students in Sanya, Hainan province go to attend gaokao in the rain on June 7, 2023. (WANG CHENGLONG / CHINA DAILY)

According to figures from the Ministry of Education, a record 12.91 million students across the country have applied for this year's gaokao, marking an increase of 980,000 from last year.

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In Guangzhou, Guangdong province, exam centers welcomed students, and their parents and teachers who came to see them off to examination rooms on the first day.

A gaokao attender, in a wheelchair, prepares to enter the exam venue with the help of people from all walks of life, in Ningxia Hui autonomous region, June 7, 2023. (LI JING / CHINA DAILY)

Students in Inner Mongolia autonomous region on their way to attend gaokao on June 7, 2023. (DING GENHOU / CHINA DAILY)

Some parents and teachers gave high fives to students as a gesture of encouragement, wishing them luck during the exam.

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In Sanya, South China's Hainan province, a red alert for heavy rain was issued on Wednesday. The gaokao is held according to schedule in the city. Attenders have been reminded to get prepared for the heavy rain and better arrange their commute time.