A total of 53,358 students in Jinan, East China's Shandong province took this year's national college entrance examination, which is also known as gaokao. It started on June 7 and will last for four days. The city has set up 32 exam sites.

A student hugs her mother before taking the national college examination on June 7 at Shandong Experimental Middle School. [Photo/Jinan Daily]

Students arrive to take the national college entrance examination on June 7 at Shandong Experimental Middle School in Jinan, Shandong province. [Photo/Jinan Daily]

Parents encourage students ahead of the examination on June 7 in Jinan, Shandong province. [Photo/Jinan Daily]

Student takes the national college entrance examination on June 7 in Jinan, Shandong province. [Photo/Jinan Daily]