For students all across the world, June and July rime with exam time and China doesn’t depart from the rule. This year the government is putting technology to use for making sure the exams take place in all legality…

Video cameras will be installed in almost 60,000 test centers to prevent students cheating in the national college entrance examination - 10.2 million students compete in the exam to access university. The Ministry of Education’s will monitor the videos and keep all footage for future investigation in the event of any cheating allegations.

Video monitoring is just an additional tool. Test centers already deploy radio-monitoring cars outside examination centers to prevent high-tech companies from offering answers through wireless communication equipments to students!

Ever wanted to learn Chinese? If so, rush to Zon!

To make sure that you get the real feel for China, your avatar first arrives as a tourist in Beijing Airport’s Customs zone (I must have been unlucky since each time I arrived it was a bit more crowded than in the game). You will then move on to the airport’s lobby, to the hotel lobby and finally to the streets! At the different stages, players encounter quests, have access to learning materials — including live Chinese tutors — and are able to organize and participate in social activities. The game even comes with some kind of traditional Chinese music.

The overall goal for the player is to fare well and advance socially and economically, with players moving from “tourists” to “residents” and finally to “citizens” of modern China - note that becoming a Chinese citizen is a rare feat for foreigners and usually a great honour. Let’s hope that the developers enhance the game to include a trip to the Olympic Stadium or to Lhassa…