Images and videos have been circulating online showing students at Jiangchuan Primary School, Guangxi Autonomous Region, happily holding fish and receiving certificates of merit.
These images stir up discussions about the skillful way rural primary schools encourage students to come from poor families.
The school in the autonomous district of Sanjiang Dong said that more than 140 students have received carp and jellyfish bags thanks to their excellent results in the year-end exam that just ended.
Principal Liao Xiaohua said that the relics and reliefs for wealth and courage have great meaning of encouragement for poor students as well as their poor families.
"We have given away books and pens, but parents hardly pay attention. Therefore, this year, we hope that you can bring fresh carp home so that the whole family can have a prosperous meal and share the joy" - the principal said.
According to Chinese legend, a carp turned into a dragon after jumping through the "dragon gate" of the Hoang Ha River. The story is often told to encourage children from poor families to rise to higher ground in society by studying hard. The word fish in Chinese is also synonyphic with the word abundance and is considered a symbol of wealth.
A total of 856 students of the school live in the nearby resettlement area under China's poverty reduction program. Previously, these families lived in mountainous areas with extremely difficult conditions.
According to Principal Liao, students started studying at school 5 months ago. Although living and learning conditions have improved greatly, schools are still making efforts to help students adapt to the new environment.
"The new life of the children's families is very difficult, so we hope the carp prize can cheer them on" - Mr. Liao said.
The rewards for live copies surprise both Chinese students and netizens, according to China Daily.
"Hopefully one day the children will " transition to dragons"... - a netizen wrote.
