As high school students in China picked up their pens on June 7 for the start of the country’s college entrance examinations, known as the gaokao, heartwarming rituals and community support cheered them on. The examinations will continue across the country for a few days.

Red has been a dominant theme of the exam period: Parents donned cheongsam, or qipao, for the homophonic Chinese word meaning “winning,” while students tied red ribbons in their hair for good luck.

Sunflowers, (homophonic in Chinese for “ranking top”), have been widely spotted in parents’ hands, symbolizing their hopes for academic success of their children.

Acts of solidarity also stood out: Teachers and students exchanged high-fives after the first session of exams, and police swiftly assisted a forgetful candidate by issuing a temporary ID within minutes.

These scenes – blending cultural symbolism with practical care – illuminate the gaokao’s role not just as an academic challenge, but a collective moment of shared expectation and support for young people.