Chinese artist Zhang Zhonghe established Deqian School, one of the first classical private schools in Wutong Mountain, the highest mountain in South China's Shenzhen city in 2004. Since then, Wutong Mountain has seen many schools of this kind opening there opening there.

The private schools in Wutong Mountain mainly teach students to read and recite Chinese classics with the belief that children under 13 are have particularly strong memories. Some schools asked the parents to study with their children so as to help them.

Parents spend 3,000 yuan ($485) per month sending their children to study Chinese classics. However, some of the students dropped out of the private schools and went back to public school fearing that they wouldn't be accepted into public schools.

Despite facing a drop in student enrollment, Zhang Zhonghe, riding the craze for Chinese classics,

feels optimistic about the school's future.