The U.S. and China’s rivalry isn’t just ramping up in trade or technology —it’s playing out in the classroom.

In China, long school days and relentless study habits are the norm. One father, Ray Liu, captured the intensity in a now- viral TikTok video showing him picking up his 13-year-old daughter from school late at night.

“Hi guys, it’s 8:30pm, let’s go pick up Cindy together,” 42-year-old Ray Liu said. “She went to school this morning at 7 a.m., so she stayed at school for about 14 hours.”

China’s education system prioritizes extended instruction, discipline, and constant testing. It’s common for students to spend more than 10 hours a day in class—followed by homework, tutoring, and preparation for the high-stakes college entrance exam.

“It has always been this way,” Ray told

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