Nearly 1,000 students take lunch together in silence. [Photo by Peng Nian/for chinadaily.com.cn]

The food recipe usually is changed every two weeks, according to the feedback from a food nutrition committee established by the school, joining the parents.

As the punctual broadcasting order telling students to begin goes off at 12 o'clock, the nearly 1,000 students begin taking their lunch together in silence.

During the 30-minute-lunchtime, if they want more food, they don't have to move or talk, but only use body gestures from the rock-paper-scissors game: Rock means more rice, paper means more soup and scissors means more dishes. As long as they gesture, the 22 teachers will get them what they want.

According to Xu Nianhua, headmaster of the school, students won't be punished if they talk while eating. The unique ritual is to help the children develop good dietary habits.