In traditional Chinese culture the first born son is considered the hope of the family. In the past, one of his many obligations and responsibilities was to look after his parents in their elder years. This meant that at either his parents retirement, or at the birth of his first child, his parents would come to live with him and take their honored position as part of his household. It was expected. The comfort of their later years was in direct proportion to the economic prosperity of their first born son.

In China it is said that the three most important persons in your life are: your mother because she gave you birth; your father because he guides your upbringing and prosperity; and your teacher because a teacher nurtures your mind.

Children in primary school know from a very young age that they are expected to do their best to secure a complete education with the highest marks possible. With the law of "one family, one child", this responsibility becomes more pronounced. From as early as first and second grade they are taught that school is important and they must do their absolute best. In classrooms of forty to seventy-two students each, a child learns quickly that one’s education is one’s own responsibility.

Kindergartens are usually separate from primary school. In China, both parents usually work, but even if they don't, most children  traditionally begin kindergarten around age two and a half or three. Kindergartens are overseen by three main people.

Each kindergarten class has a teacher or two (depending on the number of children) and often a teacher’s aid as well.

Each kindergarten is also required to have a nutritionist who sees that the nutritional requirements of each child are met in the two meals (breakfast and lunch) which are consumed at school, as well as a doctor who sees to their health requirements and distributes whatever medication is deemed necessary.

This rigorous schedule is broken up by a lunch break and much-needed nap between noon and two p.m. Both pupils and students. often stay after school to study and do homework, and in middle and high school, schools are often open on Saturday for special classes and homework.

The traditional teaching method in China is to teach, require students to memorize, review and test. The proficiency of a student is  determined by his or her test scores, while the efficacy of a teacher is often determined by the test scores of his or her class. The academic quality of a school is rated by the test scores of its students, and so on. Someone is always on top, and someone is always on the bottom. The competition continues. State awards are given to schools with the highest test scores.

Traditionally, when someone graduates from university it is time to begin thinking about getting married.

Soon after this time a child is planned and the cycle begins again.

Education in China is viewed as a life-long process. Throughout life the quest for knowledge and the desire to better one's mind is fervent.

Every morning various exercise classes are held in the cultural plaza of every town and on any given evening one can join in a public concert or ballroom dance class in the parking lot of a main office building, or attend a lecture at a local institution of learning. Weekends are filled with music lessons and English classes and both young and old can be observed edifying their minds, bodies, and spirits in their quest of knowledge.