The Chinese College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) is approaching, prompting parents to rush to purchase cheongsam dresses, which symbolize a good start. Several locations have also announced the suspension of activities such as square dancing to help students.
According to comprehensive Chinese media reports, the gaokao will take place on the 7th and 8th, and many places are suspending cultural and sports activities like square dancing. The Sports, Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau of Keshan County, Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang; the Culture, Broadcast, Tourism, and Sports Bureau of Gongyi City, Henan; the Education Bureau of Rong County, Guangxi; and the Sports Federation of Suqian City, Jiangsu have all issued relevant regulations to prevent noise interference from cultural and entertainment activities affecting the students' preparation and exam performance.
Additionally, various types of cheongsams on Taobao are seeing price hikes and increased sales, with large red cheongsams leading in sales due to their connotation of “opening with a bang,” while dark green designs are popular for the pun on “all green lights.”
Cultural shirts printed with slogans like “Good Luck” and “Extraordinary Performance” are also in high demand. A certain store's T-shirt with “Success in Exams” is at the top of the sales chart, having sold over 4,000 pieces as of Thursday (June 5).
Several daily goods stores on online shopping platforms are marketing purple underwear labeled as “exclusive for exams ‘certain win’ gaokao underwear,” with sales increasing more than tenfold within a week.
Cities like Enshi and Huangshi in Hubei Province have also issued notices to alleviate traffic pressure during the two days of the gaokao by adjusting the working hours of government and public institution employees to allow staggered travel.