In Jilin province, in China's Northeast, 123,000 students are taking China's national college entrance exam, the gaokao, on June 7, or 14,681 fewer than for last year, while educators are saying that the number of takers in neighboring Liaoning and Heilongjiang provinces is also down.

Traffic police controlling traffic, 50 meters from a testing center to make sure students are not disturbed by traffic noise before and after the exam. [Photo by Cao Yiqun/chinajilin.com.cn]

Nonetheless, the gaokao is still regarded as an important barometer by local authorities who have done everything possible to make sure that it goes smoothly.