Children at Optics Valley No 1 Primary School in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, pose for a photograph at the start of the new semester, on Feb 20. The day saw nearly 90,000 students from 46 middle and primary schools, as well as 105 kindergartens in Optics Valley of China (East Lake High-tech Development Zone) return to school following the winter vacation. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Children at Liufang Kindergarten release balloons in a classroom to mark the start of a new semester, Feb 20. [Photo provided to China Daily]