China Is on Holiday. So Why Is the Library Full Before Gaokao?

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:07]It's a 5-day holiday in China and the weather is beautiful.

[00:00:12]But across the river inside that building all 3,000 seats in this library are full.

[00:00:32]Most of them look like middle school or high school students.

[00:00:36]Some are still so small they have to sit up as straight as they can just to reach the desk and write.

[00:00:44]So why are the older kids in here studying instead of playing outside?

[00:00:52]My son is here, too.

[00:00:54]He's a senior in high school.

[00:00:56]In 5 weeks he'll be taking Gaokao, China's national college entrance exam.

[00:01:03]In China Gaokao isn't just another exam.

[00:01:07]For most families it may be the most important and most stressful exam in a child's life.

[00:01:15]In 2025 more than 13 million students took the test and this year that number could pass 14 million.

[00:01:25]But in the end less than 20% of them will get into a four-year university.

[00:01:37]For many families it can feel like this one exam shapes everything.

[00:01:42]Where you go to school what jobs you get even how much money you make.

[00:01:52]So the closer it gets to the exam the harder it is to relax.

[00:01:58]Even on a holiday like this, they're aren't here to rest.

[00:02:02]They're here to make sure not a single minute is wasted.

[00:02:06]But the truth is, it's not just the high schoolers.

[00:02:16]In Shanghai, you'll notice something strange during the holidays.

[00:02:20]In parks and playgrounds, the kids running and laughing are mostly little kids.

[00:02:27]So, where are the older kids?

[00:02:31]Most of the time, they're studying.

[00:02:32][music] In libraries, in tutoring centers, or just getting ready for the next big exam.

[00:02:42]Some are still building the skills their parents hope might give [music] them an edge later.

[00:02:47]English, sports, music, or academic competitions.

[00:02:56]For many Chinese [music] families, this pressure doesn't start in high school.

[00:03:01]It starts much earlier.

[00:03:03]At first, it might be hobby classes, English lessons, sports, or music.

[00:03:11]But over time, it slowly turns into tutoring, test prep, school choices, and the next entrance [music] exam.

[00:03:20]When my son was little, he used to play outside with his friends every day.

[00:03:27]But after he started elementary school, that time was slowly replaced by extra classes.

[00:03:35]>> [applause] >> Later, there were fewer hobby classes and more studying.

[00:03:45]>> [music] >> Little by little, school and exams became the center of his life.

[00:03:51]And behind all the effort we can see, there are many sacrifices we don't see.

[00:04:00]In China, many parents believe that if you want your child to have an easier life, you have to start early.

[00:04:08]It's like a chain reaction.

[00:04:10]A great university starts with a great high school, which starts with a great middle school.

[00:04:17]And it all leads back to the right elementary school.

[00:04:22]To get that advantage, families will sacrifice almost anything, including where they live.

[00:04:30]In Shanghai, a tiny, decades-old apartment like this, only about 350 square feet, costs around half a million dollars today.

[00:05:05]And believe it or not, back in 2022, the price was double.

[00:05:11]Despite the [music] size and condition, people still fight over these apartments.

[00:05:17]It's not because the apartment itself is nice or comfortable.

[00:05:21]It's because it's the golden ticket to a top school district.

[00:05:26]You might think these parents are crazy.

[00:05:30]Why spend a million dollars on a place like this?

[00:05:34]But for them, they aren't just buying a home.

[00:05:38]They're buying a head start for their child, a way to secure a future in a world that is incredibly competitive.

[00:05:49]But, for an ordinary family like ours, one small thing I can do is get there early to help him check in for his reserved seat at the library.

[00:06:02]The seat is only held for 30 minutes.

[00:06:05]After that, it can be given to someone else.

[00:06:09]The basement is actually the worst floor in the building, but it's also the hardest one to book.

[00:06:16]Why? Because it closes the latest.

[00:06:20]That means [music] he gets an extra 30 minutes to study.

[00:06:40]>> [music] [music] [music] >> Gaokao isn't just a battle for the students.

[00:06:56]Most of the time, the whole family is in it together.

[00:07:03]For my [music] son, there are only 5 weeks left.

[00:07:07]Right now, we're racing against the clock.

[00:07:10]Every bit of our energy and time >> [music] >> is focused on this one goal.

[00:07:15]In the coming weeks, I'll keep documenting our journey until the big day.

[00:07:20]I hope you stay with us and see where this journey takes us.