Back to School: 1.85m Students Begin New Academic Year in Shanghai

Today marked the start of the new school year for about 1.85 million elementary and secondary students in Shanghai.

The city has unveiled 40 newly established primary and secondary school campuses for the 2026 academic year, creating nearly 9,500 additional seats for local children.

More than 40,000 police officers and auxiliary staff were deployed throughout the city, ensuring that traffic flowed smoothly in school zones.

All schools in Shanghai are now required to ensure that every student engages in a minimum of two hours of physical activity each day.

This includes physical education lessons, extended breaks, extracurricular activities, sports clubs, and competitive events.

As part of the city's initiative to promote youth health, there is a focused effort on monitoring essential health indicators: vision, weight, spinal health and oral hygiene.