September 1st is the beginning of the autumn semester in China. Two hundred million students across the country say goodbye to their summer vacation and begin their new term.

In Beijing, maintaining school security is making headlines. A special school guard team consisting of more than two hundred people will help to prevent school violence.

Turning to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake-hit area of Beichuan, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, the newly-built Beichuan High School holds its school opening ceremony, where students welcome the new term. In Chongqing Municipality, first-grade students from less-privileged families receive a new schoolbag containing different stationery.

Meanwhile in Nanjing, Eastern China's Jiangsu Province, three hundred first-grade students go to the "Confucius Temple" to hold a special ceremony, showing their respect to the Confucius. By drawing a red point on their head using a Chinese brush teachers hope they have a bright future.