At the age of 12, Zhuzhu seems to have everything a child could dream for — plenty of toys, beautiful clothes and even a piano. Zhuzhu however, has little time to play, with a mountain of homework to do. Like most other Chinese children her age, Zhuzhu has to go to school from Monday to Friday, nine hours a day — an hour more than her parents spend at work.
At the weekend, unlike her parents, she has to get up early for piano lessons on Saturday and Sunday morning, followed by private Maths and English classes in the afternoon. As a reward for her hard work, Zhuzhu’s parents let her play with her toys for one hour on Saturday and Sunday evening.
Zhuzhu is not alone. According to a new study, more and more children in large cities across the country are experiencing joyless childhoods. On average, Chinese children spend 8.6 hours a day at school, with some spending 12 hours a day in the classroom. The majority of children spend longer hours at school than their parents spend at work.
As for Zhuzhu, her mother, An Hei, knows full well that her daughter doesnt get enough sleep or playtime, «We have no other choice,» she said, «if she gives up now and doesn't study hard, she will regret it as her future will be lost. She will complain to us more then.»
«This is the reality of China,» An sighed.

At the age of 12, Zhuzhu seems to have everything a child could dream for — plenty of toys, beautiful clothes and even a piano. Zhuzhu however, has little time to play, with a mountain of homework to do. Like most other Chinese children her age, Zhuzhu has to go to school from Monday to Friday, nine hours a day — an hour more than her parents spend at work.
At the weekend, unlike her parents, she has to get up early for piano lessons on Saturday and Sunday morning, followed by private Maths and English classes in the afternoon. As a reward for her hard work, Zhuzhu’s parents let her play with her toys for one hour on Saturday and Sunday evening.
Zhuzhu is not alone. According to a new study, more and more children in large cities across the country are experiencing joyless childhoods. On average, Chinese children spend 8.6 hours a day at school, with some spending 12 hours a day in the classroom. The majority of children spend longer hours at school than their parents spend at work.
As for Zhuzhu, her mother, An Hei, knows full well that her daughter doesnt get enough sleep or playtime, «We have no other choice,» she said, «if she gives up now and doesn't study hard, she will regret it as her future will be lost. She will complain to us more then.»
«This is the reality of China,» An sighed.

At the age of 12, Zhuzhu seems to have everything a child could dream for — plenty of toys, beautiful clothes and even a piano. Zhuzhu however, has little time to play, with a mountain of homework to do. Like most other Chinese children her age, Zhuzhu has to go to school from Monday to Friday, nine hours a day — an hour more than her parents spend at work.
At the weekend, unlike her parents, she has to get up early for piano lessons on Saturday and Sunday morning, followed by private Maths and English classes in the afternoon. As a reward for her hard work, Zhuzhu’s parents let her play with her toys for one hour on Saturday and Sunday evening.
Zhuzhu is not alone. According to a new study, more and more children in large cities across the country are experiencing joyless childhoods. On average, Chinese children spend 8.6 hours a day at school, with some spending 12 hours a day in the classroom. The majority of children spend longer hours at school than their parents spend at work.
As for Zhuzhu, her mother, An Hei, knows full well that her daughter doesnt get enough sleep or playtime, «We have no other choice,» she said, «if she gives up now and doesn't study hard, she will regret it as her future will be lost. She will complain to us more then.»
«This is the reality of China,» An sighed.

At the age of 12, Zhuzhu seems to have everything a child could dream for — plenty of toys, beautiful clothes and even a piano. Zhuzhu however, has little time to play, with a mountain of homework to do. Like most other Chinese children her age, Zhuzhu has to go to school from Monday to Friday, nine hours a day — an hour more than her parents spend at work.
At the weekend, unlike her parents, she has to get up early for piano lessons on Saturday and Sunday morning, followed by private Maths and English classes in the afternoon. As a reward for her hard work, Zhuzhu’s parents let her play with her toys for one hour on Saturday and Sunday evening.
Zhuzhu is not alone. According to a new study, more and more children in large cities across the country are experiencing joyless childhoods. On average, Chinese children spend 8.6 hours a day at school, with some spending 12 hours a day in the classroom. The majority of children spend longer hours at school than their parents spend at work.
As for Zhuzhu, her mother, An Hei, knows full well that her daughter doesnt get enough sleep or playtime, «We have no other choice,» she said, «if she gives up now and doesn't study hard, she will regret it as her future will be lost. She will complain to us more then.»
«This is the reality of China,» An sighed.