Students tell of testing times in Wuhan

"I got up at 6:20 am every day for a year. My parents didn't pressure me to get high scores in the gaokao. Instead, they told me to take it easy. I appreciate this and want to thank them," she said.

"My father is a designer and my mother runs an online shop selling maternity clothing and accessories. They were able to stay home with me during the outbreak and always took good care of me."

Wu said she will pursue a postgraduate degree in Wuhan.

"When I was a little girl, I wanted to explore the outside world, believing it would be exciting. But now, after witnessing how united Hubei became during the pandemic, I love my hometown more than ever and want to stay here for college and for work."

Poetry recitals

Zhang Yunpeng, a student at Fruit Lake Senior High School in Wuhan, stayed home for more than four months to prepare for the gaokao. He got up at 7 am, recited ancient Chinese poetry in the morning, took online classes in the afternoon and did math, physics and chemistry tests until 11 pm.

"My parents and I were worried when the city was locked down," the 19-year-old said. "We were not allowed to go outside and had trouble buying food, but life gradually improved. My parents took all the pressure and created a safe environment for me."

Zhang said he wants to major in astronomy, biology or chemistry, and become a college teacher. He is learning to play the drums again for the first time since studying in the 10th grade.

"I hope that we can stop having to wear face masks as soon as possible, and that more people will be eating Wuhan's famed hot dry noodles at small streetside restaurants," he said.

Family reunited

Ju Jing, 18, said she was excited to see people back on the streets of Wuhan after the 76-day lockdown was lifted on April 8.

"Before the pandemic, it was hard to imagine that just seeing people walking on the streets would be so thrilling. After all, I hadn't seen anyone other than my parents for more than two months."

During the lockdown, in addition to preparing for the gaokao, Ju bought groceries on the internet and phoned her father every day.

On the day Wuhan was locked down, her father went to decorate an apartment in a different area of the city. However, he was unable to return home after public transportation services were suspended.

The three-member family was finally reunited in April.

"I noticed my father had a lot more gray hairs when I finally met him after more than two months. My best childhood memory is of him taking me to his factory and buying me bread in the canteen. His colleagues took turns to hold me," Ju said.

"I will stay in Wuhan to be with my parents," she added.

Zhou Lihua in Wuhan contributed to this story.