China gearing up for college entrance exam

BEIJING - A charter train carrying more than 600 high school students whistled as it slowly left the railway station in Dayangshu Town on Monday in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The 135-km trip will bring students with Ewenki, Oroqen and Daur ethnic backgrounds to Ali River Town, where the county government of Oroqen autonomous banner is based, to sit the annual national college entrance examination, known as the "gaokao."

Since the local railway department started running the gaokao charter train in 2003, more than 20,000 students have taken it for the exam.

To alleviate the pressure on students, the train offers psychological counseling, dancing and musical performances, as well as packages containing erasers, pencils and books for students.

"We feel quite relaxed on the train," said student Bai Junwei.

This year, a total of 9.4 million Chinese high school students will sit the examination, due to kick off Wednesday and last for two or three days in different regions.

Chinese cities are gearing up for the test, which is considered a fair platform for young generations to seek a promising future.

During exam hours on Wednesday and Thursday, the Beijing Bus Group will order buses along 14 routes not to stop at stations near the exam venues. It said it will add 200 vehicles to cater to the transport needs of students and their parents.

Meanwhile, Beijing Subway has set up a "green channel" allowing students with admission cards for the exam to undergo security checks more quickly. Railway stations near the exam venues will provide supplies such as erasers, pens and rulers for students.

In central China's Henan Province, Zhengzhou Emergency Medical Rescue Center will allocate 120 doctors and nurses and 89 ambulances to exam venues during the test.

This year, around 117,000 students are expected to sit gaokao in Zhengzhou. The city's Bus Communication Corporation will arrange for more buses on the road. Buses should slow down and are banned from whistling when passing by exam venues.

Examinees can take buses free of charge by showing their admission cards for the exam, according to the corporation.

The city's public security bureau will allocate around 300 police motorcycles and 200 police vehicles to offer help for students and parents in need.

Zhengzhou police will assign 16 officers to each of the city's 102 exam venues. Patrols around the sites have been tightened.

They have also launched inspections into stores to confiscate possible cheating devices.