Matriculation Puts Millions in China to the Test

June 5, 2007

Author: Zhou Yan

Source: Xinhua

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-06/05/content_6201289.htm

CHANGCHUN, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The smoke from the burning joss sticks is all but suffocating at this Confucian Temple in Changchun as crowds of students flock here to pay respects to the teacher of all teachers and pray for success in the national college entrance exam scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

A huge tree outside the temple is covered with so many wishing cards that one can hardly recognize the trunk as a pine. Over the last couple of weeks almost all the cards have been left by students wishing to make it on the golden list or top place in thematriculation.

"We receive nearly 500 students and parents a day. Some of them arrive at 6:30 a.m.," said Wang Hongyuan, a manager of the temple, his eyes red from the thick smoke of incense.

Wang and the other workers clean up the burned incense sticks at least five times a day. "Otherwise the ashes would spill and mess up the floor."