This year’s gaokao, or China’s national college entrance examination, kicked off on Wednesday. According to statistics from Chinese Ministry of Education, a record high of 12.91 million candidates registered to sit gaokao this year. In Shanghai, many candidates went to the exam venues accompanied by their families on Wednesday morning. Some of the candidates’ mothers wore the traditional Chinese costume qipao, a clothing that they believe can bring their children good luck in the exam. Local authority sent police and volunteers at exam venues across the city to maintain order. The three-day gaokao in Shanghai will end on Friday this year. (Photos: Lu Ting, Chen Xia/GT)