BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Back from summer vacation, students at a primary school in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, were pleased to find that their desks and chairs could be turned into post-lunch nap recliners via just a few adjustments.

In many parts of China, napping is a common post-lunch recharge practice -- similar to Spain's siesta. Yet classroom napping has proved problematic. With limited space and non-adjustable traditional desks, most students could only doze off by leaning on their desks.

Now, "nap-friendly" furniture offers a solution. Adjustable backrests and cushions can create a comfortable angle of over 150 degrees, far more suitable for lying down. Also, headrests are retractable, while leg rests allow students to stretch their legs.

"I can take a good nap with this chair and desk -- and feel refreshed for afternoon classes," said Wang Yunmu, a third-grader at the primary school in Chengdu.

This focus on better midday naps stems from China's recognition that adequate rest boosts students' health and academic performance. "A proper lying-down nap after morning classes enhances afternoon study efficiency and helps students maintain a positive mindset," said education expert Chen Qianlin.

More primary and secondary schools are adopting "nap-friendly" furniture. For example, Ganzhou in east China's Jiangxi Province plans to equip 68 schools with over 20,000 sets of "nap-friendly" desks this year.

Meanwhile, in Fenghua in Zhejiang Province, also in east China, schools have received more than 20,000 sets of napping facilities for the autumn semester. "The kids have been resting really well," said Sun Mina, a local primary school teacher.

As the use of such furniture increases, China's State Administration for Market Regulation has released technical standards to ensure safety and comfort. Taking effect next February, the standards recommend reclining chairs with an overall length of at least 1,050 mm, a backrest tilt of over 135 degrees, and ample under-desk space for free leg movement.

"When adjusted to more than 135 degrees, neck, back and waist muscles rest better -- reducing fatigue of spinal muscles and supporting bone development," said Tang Xin, an orthopedic expert at the Children's Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine.

"These standards are significant in keeping substandard items off campuses and improving students' napping," said Xiong Bingqi, an education researcher.

Xiong noted that limited classroom space is the main barrier to wider promotion of "nap-friendly" furniture, as a typical classroom can accommodate 25 sets at most.

Future efforts should optimize school layouts to facilitate small-class teaching, enabling both personalized education and comfortable naps, Xiong added. ■