The biggest chunk of Xu's bill comes from her spending on electronic products, including a smartphone, iPad and laptop.

"These three things are pretty essential for college life—you'll need them for attending classes, doing research and writing papers. Almost all my classmates bought them, just with different budgets," Xu told Beijing Review.

Another major expense was her graduation trip. Xu and her friends are planning a road trip to China's northwest. "I'll go after getting my driver's license," she said. "A one-month trip with my high school friends to Gansu, Shaanxi and Qinghai provinces and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region—a total pre-college reset before diving into my new, academic life."

Xu's parents are very supportive of her spending and overall plans. "My daughter is very considerate—in fact, she offered to take a summer job to cover part of the expenses. But I told her we could handle it and encouraged her to go on the trip instead," Xu's father told Beijing Review. "I told her she has years of opportunities ahead to work hard, seek internships and worry about money, but she will only have one carefree, 18-year-old summer in her lifetime. You can never put a price on that."

It's all very necessary 

Xu's spending choices mirror the broader consumption trends among fresh high school graduates.

Electronics retailers nationwide generally report a surge in foot traffic once the potentially life-altering gaokao concluded. Smartphones, laptops and tablets have long been post-exam purchasing staples. At an Apple-authorized store in Langfang, Hebei, a salesperson told Beijing Review, "Parents often buy all three items at once for their children. Starting the day after the gaokao, nearly every parent-child pair coming into the store leaves with at least one device. If this trend continues, the sales of these products in our store will jump by over 30 percent compared with the previous month."

"Most families have budgeted for this in advance," the staff member added. "We're simply helping them choose the right products. Students opting for majors in tech or art tend to spend big, totaling about 9,000 yuan ($1,249), on electronic products, whereas students choosing other majors tend to spend 3,000 to 6,000 yuan ($416-833)."

Beyond necessity, government subsidies and student-exclusive discounts are also driving the consumption. At the Kejia Computer Mall in Changsha of Hunan Province, the manager of a Lenovo store told newspaper Sanxiang Metropolis Daily on June 19 that their recent computer sales had doubled normal volumes, with nearly all buyers being fresh high school graduates. Lenovo is one of the world's largest and most successful technology companies. Gaming laptops and Ultrabooks, the brand's ultra-thin and lightweight laptops, emerged as the Changsha store's top sellers.

The government offers subsidy to reduce consumer costs when purchasing goods or services, thereby stimulating market demand. According to the Ministry of Commerce, in 2025, the subsidy policy covers digital products, home appliances and automobiles. Consumers can receive a subsidy

equaling 15 percent of the final price, up to 500 yuan ($70) per item when purchasing smartphones, tablets or smartwatches priced under 6,000 yuan. Each individual can claim subsidy for one item in a category.

The store currently offers an additional 20-percent discount for students who took this year's gaokao. "This is truly the most cost-effective time for graduates to buy electronics," the manager emphasized.

Besides electronics, driving lessons are another essential expenditure from the parental perspective. At Yian Driving School in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, staff told Shanghai-based news portal ThePaper.cn that, since early June, over 70 percent of daily enrollees have been fresh high school graduates, with some schools seeing the usual monthly sign-up numbers tripled.

Driving schools across Nanchang are rolling out exclusive discounts for high school graduates. Blue Sky Driving School's Gaokao Special Class is shaving 500 yuan off tuition while offering one-on-one coaching for high school graduates specifically. White Cloud Driving School provides dedicated student coordinators, prioritizing flexible scheduling.

"Driving is an essential life skill," Xu's father explained. "Once college begins, she won't have such large blocks of free time to learn it. That's why I enrolled her now. The end of the gaokao doesn't mean the end of learning—it just means learning different things."

Tailored to oneself 

For many students, the conclusion of those intense high-school years—marked by endless cramming sessions and little time for self-care—is followed by a post-exam "image overhaul." Beyond traditional options like getting a haircut and a new outfit, teens are seizing this rare break for long-term investments like laser eye surgery and orthodontics, procedures that demand extended recovery periods they simply couldn't afford to spare during their school years.

Data from online services provider Meituan show that in the first post-exam week, searches for myopia surgery surged 251 percent month on month, with appointments up by 108 percent. Appointments for SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction) eye surgery jumped over 103 percent.

While many students get these surgeries for the sake of appearance, some actually have military or police academy dreams, where strict vision standards apply. To allow adequate recovery time, some candidates underwent surgery or booked their first consultations immediately after concluding the gaokao.

Cosmetic dentistry has become another hot post-gaokao trend. Meituan figures show oral care services surged during the first week after exams, with teeth straightening and whitening orders both jumping nearly 30 percent week on week.

Many graduates are investing in dental upgrades to enhance their appearance before starting college. "Fresh high school and college graduates have always been our core summer clientele," Zhou Xiaolin, a Beijing-based orthodontist, told Beijing Review. "Investing in one's appearance is essential for boosting confidence during these transitional chapters."

The travel market is also thriving as graduates embark on trips with classmates and family. Numerous tourist attractions are rolling out exclusive offers for graduates, including discounted or free admission and special gifts, drawing huge crowds.

"Family inquiries about nearby getaways and cross-province tours have surged since the exam ended," Tian Yichao, General Manager of Nanchang Spring and Autumn International Travel Agency, told ThePaper.cn. "Customized tours combining educational themes and adventure activities have proven particularly popular, with bookings skyrocketing. These deals provide the perfect way for families to unwind after the stressful exam season."

Wang Wuzhong, General Manager of Chizhou Comfort Travel Co. Ltd., told news portal Greater Bay Area News that while many graduates have inquired about the graduation trips the company has on offer, with consultations up substantially year on year, most ultimately opt for independent travel. "Students enjoy planning itineraries with classmates more than group tours," Wang noted. After all, for graduates who have just entered adulthood, the holiday is not only a time to relax, but also an opportunity to become independent.

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon 

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