As millions of Chinese students feverishly prepare for the national college entrance examination, or gaokao, this weekend, parents across the country are turning to products symbolizing good fortune, fueling a surge in sales of flowers, pastries, clothing and other related merchandise.

本周末全国数百万考生全力备战高考之际，各地家长纷纷选购寓意吉祥的好物，带动鲜花、糕点、服饰等相关商品销量暴涨。

While the students are focusing on last-minute revisions, their parents are busy preparing "good luck" items as a way of offering encouragement and emotional support.

考生抓紧考前最后时间查漏补缺，家长们则忙着置办各类祈福好物，以此为孩子鼓劲、送上心理慰藉。

Among the most popular purchases are qipao, the traditional Chinese dress, which sounds similar to the phrase qikai desheng, meaning "to win from the outset". Florists are reporting strong demand for sunflowers, the Chinese name of which is associated with the idiom yiju duokui, or "winning first place in one stroke".

旗袍是热门选购单品，因谐音“旗开得胜”备受青睐；向日葵同样订单火爆，其名称暗含“一举夺魁”的美好寓意，花店销量一路走高。

"Success in the exam ultimately depends on the student's abilities. As parents, we simply want to offer our children our best wishes and some extra encouragement," said Zhang, a parent of a high school senior.

高三考生家长张先生表示：“考试成败终究靠孩子自身实力，作为父母，我们只是想送上美好期许，多给孩子一份鼓励。”

According to the owner of a qipao shop in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, sales have risen sharply in recent weeks. Many mothers wear the outfit while accompanying their children to the examination centers. Customers are buying qipao specifically for the gaokao season, the owner told Fengmian News, a Sichuan-based media outlet. "Some even placed orders more than a month in advance."

据四川本地媒体封面新闻报道，成都一位旗袍店店主介绍，近几周门店销量大幅攀升。不少妈妈会身着旗袍送考，大批顾客专门为高考选购旗袍，部分消费者甚至提前一个多月预订。

Online retailers have also reported a surge in demand. One qipao store said that sales increased fivefold over the past week, with modernized versions of the traditional dress proving particularly popular.

线上商家同样迎来订单热潮，一家旗袍网店称上周销量翻至原先五倍，改良新式旗袍最受消费者追捧。

Also much sought after are sunflowers, which have become the season's top-selling floral product. Flower shops in several cities reported receiving orders for sunflower bouquets from parents and entire graduating classes alike.

向日葵成为当季爆款鲜花，多地花店接到不少家长和毕业班集体预订的向日葵花束订单。

Not to be left behind, pastry makers are also cashing in on the trend. Dingsheng gao, a traditional rice cake, the name of which literally means "certain victory", has become a seasonal bestseller. Bakery chains and retailers such as Beijing Daoxiangcun and Freshippo Bakery have launched special exam-themed gift boxes to cater to the huge demand.

糕点商家也顺势抢抓商机，寓意“定胜”的传统定胜糕热销。北京稻香村、盒马烘焙等连锁糕点品牌纷纷推出高考限定礼盒，满足市场需求。

Meanwhile, zongzi-shaped plush pendants inspired by the Dragon Boat Festival, which carry a pun associated with academic success, have become popular gifts for students.

端午元素的粽子造型毛绒挂饰凭借谐音升学的美好彩头，成为热门考生礼品。

Many handmade zongzi key chains featuring messages such as "admitted to a top university" have sold thousands of units on e-commerce platforms.

印有“金榜题名”等字样的手工粽子钥匙扣，在各大电商平台销量破千。

According to e-commerce platform JD, sales of stationery carrying phrases such as "pass every exam" have tripled compared with April, while searches for exam-related stationery products have increased nearly sevenfold.

京东平台数据显示，印有“逢考必过”等祝福语的文具销量较4月增长两倍，高考相关文具搜索量暴涨近六倍。

Industry observers said that the popularity of such products reflects parents' desire to support their children during a stressful period in their lives, rather than a belief in superstitions.

业内分析人士表示，祈福商品热销并非源于迷信，而是家长在备考关键期想要陪伴、助力孩子的情感体现。

However, they also cautioned parents not to create additional pressure for students through elaborate pre-exam preparations.

但专家提醒家长，不必过度置办各类祈福用品，避免无形中给考生增添心理负担。

Ultimately, the gaokao is an examination, an observer said, adding that what really matters is helping students stay calm and confident.

业内人士称，高考只是一场考试，帮孩子稳住心态、保持自信才是重中之重。

Sometimes, the observer said, the best support comes after the exam — a meal together, a trip, or simply letting children know they are loved regardless of the outcome.

专家表示，最好的陪伴往往在考后：一顿团圆饭、一次短途出游，或是告诉孩子，无论成绩如何，家人的爱始终不变。

plush /plʌʃ/毛绒的

pendant /ˈpendənt/挂饰，吊坠

pun /pʌn/谐音梗，双关语

triple /ˈtrɪpl/（使）增至三倍