Gaokao candidates learn lessons in testing times

As China battles the epidemic, students preparing to take this year's national college entrance exam are finding new ways of studying, revising and expressing themselves. Zhao Yimeng reports from Beijing, with Liu Kun in Wuhan.

A rap written by candidates for the gaokao, China's national college entrance exam, has gone viral on social media, garnering thousands of hits and comments on the platform, QQ Music.

Empty City, which makes reference to the novel coronavirus epidemic, was created by a couple of grade three students from the High School Affiliated to Renmin University, also known as RDFZ, a prestigious establishment in Beijing.

The students recorded the song during their preparations for the exam, which will be held in June.

Liu Yixin and his classmate Li Yusheng, both 18, wrote the song to express their feelings about the outbreak and to support the families of people infected with the virus.

On Jan 28, Yang Jun, the father of one of their classmates, was the first reported death from the virus in the capital.

Liu and Li responded lyrically:

Lives claimed by the epidemic rest in peace/I can't imagine how tortured her family is.

How many sins in history weren't led by selfishness?

Is it possible to prevent/a daughter facing the gaokao crying in front of her father?

Many people who commented said they had played the song continuously, and they praised the sentiments voiced.

The comments included, "These children shouldered their responsibilities for the nation and they didn't disappoint our expectations," and "Young people are the hope of the country."

Liu wrote the music and sang the song. He has been playing guitar for two years and previously formed a band at the school, but it broke up because the students were so busy with their studies.

"I am addicted to hip-hop music, rock 'n' roll and electronica. My hobby is producing music on my computer after I've done my schoolwork," he said in his introduction on QQ Music.

He taught himself to make music, using his pocket money to buy materials online to improve his skills.