At 9 o'clock on June 7, when the bell rang, the 2023 national college entrance exam, or gaokao, kicked off.

Zhongshan recorded a total of 18,191 candidates for this year's exam, 1,793 more than last year. Twelve exam sites, including Sun Yat-sen Memorial Secondary School, were set up, one more than last year. Some 701 exam rooms were set up, including 3 spare ones for each exam site. Nearly 2,500 workers were involved.

At the exam site of Haotou High School, three teachers see off the candidates.

A teacher of Zhongshan Dongsheng Senior High School gives high fives to the candidates at the exam site of Xiaolan Middle School.

The candidates of Dongqu High School of Zhongshan head to the exam site by bus.

The exam site of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Secondary School provided free ginger drinks to the candidates.