Special provisions for special times, but most of the 135,000 candidates still have chance to compete for further studies

It was snowing in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, on the morning of Dec 25. Since Dec 23, the ancient city of 13 million has been locked down due to a COVID-19 outbreak that began on Dec 9.

But its 135,000 candidates for the national graduate school entrance examination still had to take their exams on that day, lockdown or no lockdown, and so special procedures were put in place.

The local government took a number of measures to help as many candidates as possible to take the exam. New test centers were set up; special coaches were sent to pick up candidates; and quarantined exam rooms were established.