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It's that time of year again: Essay topics for gaokao's Chinese exam sparked discussion and debate on social media on Wednesday, the first day of the gaokao. 

During the 150-minute gaokao Chinese exam, candidates are required to compose an 800-word essay on a given topic, which vary between regions and provinces.

The hashtag "2017 gaokao composition" grabbed 4.5 million views on Sina Weibo, just one hour after the topics were made public following the exam's conclusion.

And as in previous years, the topics were a target of social media sarcasm.

In Beijing, students were given the essay topic "Republic, Let Me Take a Photo of You," in which they were asked to describe their vision of China in 2049, or the centennial of the People's Republic of China.

"And the republic says: don't forget to photoshop me!" wrote a Sina Weibo user.

Students across nine provinces, including Guangdong Province, were asked to introduce China to foreigners using "two or three key words, such as the Belt and Road initiative, giant panda or even air pollution."

"It's more like a government report than a gaokao composition," "Yudianbianlan" commented.

Candidates from 11 regions, including Tibet Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, were tasked with writing their essays on provided lines from famous Chinese poems, including one from Mao Zedong.

However, it wasn't all political slogans and poetry. Candidates in East China's Shandong Province were told to give their thoughts on a 24-hour bookshop. "I'm glad I have already passed the gaokao," wrote "Xiaoxingren," presumably in relief.