A Hefei mother parks her recreational vehicle in a park near her son’s high school to save him 20 minutes of daily commute, paying 10 RMB/day for parking with free utilities—planning to stay until Gaokao concludes.

Social Context

Gaokao-centric parenting has spawned ‘exam season encampments’ nationwide, with RVs, converted vans, and rented apartments near campuses. While not illegal, this reflects systemic academic pressure—and municipal authorities in Hefei recently issued guidelines limiting long-term RV parking in public parks to preserve shared space equity.

Safety Tip

RV dwellers should obtain written permission from park management and install carbon monoxide detectors—especially when using generators or gas stoves indoors.