Here are some links about school life in China.
1. Read a 2009 NY Times article about "gao kao", the college entrance exam in China here. You will be amazed!
2. Read about a typical day in Middle School No. 5 in Beijing here.
3. See and listen to an audio slide show of students in Beijing talking about their school, school uniforms, art, sports, school lunch, and friendships here.
4. Watch short video clips of students at Tianjia Bing Experimental Senior Middle School doing skits and conversations about their daily routines and academic schedules here.
5. Interesting Culture Note: In ancient China only men were allowed to receive an education and subsequently go on to take the imperial examination, a prerequisite to be appointed as a government official. In a famous Chinese opera the female singer Suzhen Feng's husband was framed by evil men and sent to prison. She disguises herself as a man in order to take the Imperial exam and rescue him. Surprisingly she scores the highest and is chosen to be a Zhuang Yuan (highest ranking official). See a clip of the opera here and read the lyrics below.
To rescue my beloved LiLang, I left home for imperial examination (the only means to be a governor) Surprisingly, I was chosen to be Zhuang Yuan (the best examinee). Dressing in red robe, wearing hat decorated with honor flowers, all these are interesting.
Having been to an imperial feast, Having ridden a horse to cross the street in front of the palace, (this is a special honor to Zhuang Yuan) Everyone praised me to be as handsome as Pan-An. (a handsome man in Chinese history) But no one ever noticed that I am actually a girl in disguise
I took the imperial examination neither for my reputation, nor for a high-ranking offical position, but only for my beloved LiLang, and for being with him forever.