On June 7, the 2025 National College Entrance Examination officially began. Fifteen examination sites in Jing'an District welcomed over 4,000 students with big dreams. Inside the examination rooms, students diligently wrote their answers, while outside, a spirit of support prevailed. Teachers, wearing red T-shirts with the phrase "promising future", shared their expectations for a successful start. Students who received university admissions after the spring exam offered heartfelt encouragement to their peers. Parents sheltered under colorful umbrellas in the rain and provided steadfast support. The community's dedicated energy supply station reflected its thoughtful care.
The first day of the examination coincided with the onset of the annual rainy season. Anticipating possible rainfall, police officers in the district deployed in advance, ensured adequate phased backup resources, and managed traffic flow as well as kept order around the examination sites to facilitate a smooth examination process.
Chasing dreams in the rain: T-shirts with the phrase "promising future" and the energy supply station
At 7:50 a.m., the rain varied between heavy and light. Teachers from Shanghai Xinzhong Senior High School, wearing red graduation commemorative T-shirts, were already at the examination sites. Physics teacher Xu Fandi explained that the T-shirts featuring the school logo and the phrase "promising future" reflect teachers' hope for their students. "All head teachers and grade group teachers were in place by 7:45 a.m.," Xu noted. To prepare for the rainy conditions, the school advised students to bring a change of clothes when distributing examination admission tickets. "We wanted to ensure students wouldn't get wet or experience temperature changes in the air-conditioned examination rooms, which could affect their performance," he added.
Speaking about stress relief before the exam, Xu Fandi shared that the school implemented various strategies. "We recently organized a mobilization activity where students from each class sang encouraging songs. During breaks and class meetings, we also encouraged them to sing loudly to help alleviate stress in a relaxed atmosphere," he said.
As a student admitted to the electronic engineering technology program at Shanghai University of Engineering Science for the 2025 spring exam, Xu Yue from Class 8 of Shanghai Xinzhong Senior High School arrived at the examination site around 7:30 a.m. to support her classmates and friends taking the national college entrance examination. "I understand the tension during this period," she said. "Yesterday, I sent messages to all my classmates and friends, wishing them good luck on the exam. I hope their dreams come true." Xu Yue smiled, noting that after receiving her university admission, she traveled to relax. Recently, she was involved in internships, part-time work, and professional studies. Looking ahead, she excitedly shared plans to gather and celebrate with her classmates after their exams, saying that even rain wouldn't dampen their enthusiasm for getting together.
Outside the examination sites, parents sheltered under colorful umbrellas, and their red clothing added a striking touch against the rain. Their silent presence conveyed unwavering support. Fifty meters away, a community-based energy supply station was established for the examination. It featured encouraging slogans such as "Rain Can't Dampen Our Spirits, Scores Will Soar" and "Rain Won't Stop Us, Success Awaits". The station offered rest areas with air conditioning, drinking water, noise-canceling earplugs, and WiFi. Moreover, it provided convenient printing for admission tickets, review materials, and letters of commitment for integrity examination, along with stationery for borrowing, including 0.5 mm black pens, answer sheet markers, erasers, and rulers. Through thoughtful services and grounded expectations, the community ensured students could take their exams with confidence and demonstrated its commitment to their well-being.
Thoughtful safeguards and emergency response plan and support for students
At the Shanghai Shixi High School examination site, police officers from Jing'an Temple Police Station and the No. 1 Team of Traffic Management Detachment at Jing'an Public Security Sub-bureau arrived early. They worked together to maintain order on the roads and sidewalks at the examination site entrance. Given the forecast of heavy rain in the morning, additional precautions were implemented. Xu Jianjun, deputy director of the Comprehensive Command Office at Jing'an Temple Police Station under the sub-bureau, emphasized that police officers were fully prepared for the rainy conditions. "Our goal is to ensure that students can enter the sites smoothly while parents can wait with assurance," he said.
In anticipation of possible rainfall in Shanghai during the examination, police in Jing'an District prepared adequate phased backup resources to manage traffic flow and maintain order around the examination sites. Police stations around the sites actively assisted schools in establishing parent waiting areas, enhanced road patrols and traffic management, and organized police resources to guide parents to wait orderly. These efforts prevented crowding that could disrupt traffic and kept routes safe and clear for students. According to the traffic police, each examination site had high-quality resources on standby to ensure rapid responses to emergency requests from students and their parents. When necessary, a green channel would be opened to provide emergency assistance. Hu Yifan, a police officer from the No. 1 Team of Traffic Management Detachment under the sub-bureau, noted "In light of the rainy weather, we deployed four rounds of police to guide students at surrounding intersections, in addition to two rounds of patrol officers."
In preparation for the national college entrance examination, particularly the English listening exam on June 9, the Traffic Management Detachment developed a comprehensive traffic management plan. To assist students and their parents, the detachment issued "Travel Tips for the 2025 National College Entrance Examination in Jing'an District" the night before the exam. This document included detailed information on public transportation options near examination sites, designated parking areas, and recommended routes for dropping off students. Clear guidance signs were installed around each site to direct vehicles to stop in designated areas, ensuring that students could access the examination rooms safely via dedicated pedestrian passages.
To enhance traffic management efficiency, police in the district utilized unmanned aerial vehicles for aerial patrols of major roads around examination sites when the weather was clear. The traffic management department also urged the public to choose public transportation options whenever possible during the exam period. Drivers near examination sites were reminded to observe no-honking regulations and to travel during off-peak hours.