As the deadlines for midterm papers and postgraduate entrance exams draw closer, seats in campus libraries and classrooms are a scarce commodity.

期中论文大限将至，考研也迫在眉睫，校园里图书馆和自习室可谓一座难求。

Competition for seats is making quite a few students’ heads spin. The Chinese media reported that university students in Wuhan even put up tents outside libraries in order to line up for places.

占座令相当一部分学生感到头疼。国内媒体此前报道称，在武汉，许多大学生甚至在图书馆外支起帐篷，排队等位。

An increasing number of college students are looking for alternatives. They are exploring new frontiers by turning dining halls, snack bars, cafes, and even meadows into their personal studies.

越来越多的大学生正在另辟蹊径。他们把食堂、快餐店、咖啡馆、甚至草坪都开辟为自习区。

Gong Yuhui, 18, a finance engineering major at the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), likes to study at the Sculpting in Time cafe near her campus. Sharing a pot of lavender tea and, occasionally, a piece of cake, she and her friends often spend entire afternoons or evenings there.

18岁的龚玉辉（音译）就读于对外经贸大学金融工程学专业，她喜欢在学校附近的雕刻时光咖啡馆自习。她和朋友们常常点上一壶薰衣草茶，偶尔来块蛋糕，便会在那里看上一整个下午或整晚的书。

“I’m preparing for the Licensing Examination for Security Intermediaries,” the sophomore said. “Reviewing lessons in dorms was so stressful. My roommates went to sleep early, so I had to turn off all the main lights in order not to disturb them. The desk light was dim, and I had to be careful to avoid making any noise.”

现在读大二的她说：“我正在准备证券从业资格考试。在宿舍复习功课很有压力。室友们习惯早睡，为了不打扰她们，我需要关掉所有的大灯。而台灯光线很暗，我要小心翼翼，以免弄出一点响声。”

However, the laid-back atmosphere and soothing music in cafes help her focus. More importantly, she can discuss any questions with her friends.

而在咖啡馆中，轻松的氛围和舒缓的音乐则让她精力更集中。更重要的是，她可以随心所欲地和朋友讨论问题。

“In a library or classroom I have to refrain from asking questions and show consideration toward others.”

“在图书馆或自习室里看书，为了考虑他人的感受，我必须忍着不问问题。”

Besides cafes and cake shops, students often opt to study in the open air.

除了咖啡馆和蛋糕店之外，学生们还经常在户外学习。

Ma Shuangshuang, a freshman at China University of Political Science and Law, reviews her legal material on the stone benches in the campus’ garden, despite the fact that her attention might be distracted by passersby.

中国政法大学大一学生马霜霜（音译）就喜欢坐在学校花园里的石凳上复习法律资料，尽管有时她的注意力或许会被路人打扰。

“The campus is located in the Changping suburb of Beijing, where the fresh air and clear sky nourish my mind,” said Ma, who sometimes lies on the grass while reading.

马霜霜说：“我们的校区在北京市郊昌平，这里天空晴朗，空气清新，让人身心愉悦。”她有时会躺在草坪上看书。

But as the weather grows chillier, she is retreating indoors.

但由于天气越来越冷，她正准备转战室内。

For all-nighters, fast-food restaurants with a 24-hour service make a sound choice.

对于喜欢开夜车的同学来说，24小时营业的快餐店是个不错的选择。

In a well-lit snack bar outside campus, Wu Han, 19, from UIBE, is staring at exotic words on his iPad. He is brushing up on his Spanish before the midterm exam.

就读于对外经贸大学、19岁的吴汉（音译）正坐在校外一家灯光明亮的快餐店内，目不转睛地背着iPad上的生词。他正在温习西班牙语课程，做期中考前准备。

“I hate classrooms because I am frequently asked to leave whenever students have a class,” said the English media major. “They also close before midnight.”

就读于国际传媒专业的他表示：“我讨厌自习室，因为通常教室一有课，我就会被赶出来。而且教室不到十二点就关门了。”

Campus canteens remain a hotspot for studying. Many like to arrive early in order to occupy the seats by the windows. But Zhang Feng, 19, from Shanghai Normal University, considers the tables and chairs a little messy. “The lighting can be bad for reading,” said Zhang. The sophomore Japanese major still prefers libraries, where he has more self-discipline due to the solemn learning environment.

校园食堂仍是热门的自习场所。很多人喜欢早早来食堂，占个靠窗的座位。来自上海师范大学、19岁的张枫（音译）却觉得食堂的桌椅有点脏。他说：“食堂光线不好，不适合看书。”这位就读于日语专业的大二学生还是更喜欢去图书馆看书，那里的学习氛围很浓，更便于自律。

Administrators are trying to tackle the seating shortage. Jiang Enqiao, a tutor at Beihang University, says colleges are catching up.

高校管理人员正试图解决“座位荒”这一问题。来自北航的导师江恩桥（音译）表示，学校正为此努力改进。

“To cater to the individuality of post-90s students, posh cafes, tea houses and chatting saloons are being built at universities,” he said. “Classrooms are being equipped with hot water fountains, and some even with coffee machines.”

他说：“为迎合90后学生的个性特征，各大学校都正在兴建各种精致咖啡馆、茶舍以及聊天室。教室里也配备了饮水机，有的教室甚至还配有咖啡机。”

But Jiang also said that studying off campus should not be the norm. “There are safety concerns, and it is important to work in an academic environment.”

不过，江恩桥也表示：“在校外学习不应成为惯例。一方面是出于安全考虑，另一方面在学术氛围中学习也很重要。”