This year's annual national college entrance examination, or gaokao, is being held amid the COVID-19 pandemic, making the situation even tougher than usual. Despite this, there were a few bright spots.

As their children take the exam, parents wait outside the Branch Campus of Qingdao No 2 Middle School on July 7. [Photo/WeChat account: qdweishinan]

Security guards manage the parking situation in front of the school on July 7, in an effort to ensure traffic moves smoothly. [Photo/WeChat account: qdweishinan]

Students leave the school after finishing a portion of the test on July 7. [Photo/WeChat account: qdweishinan]

A student hugs her mother in front of the school gate after she completes a day of testing. [Photo/WeChat account: qdweishinan]