Hairdresser Wang Lidan is making an emotional Lunar New Year journey from Beijing to her hometown in northeastern China -- her first in three years after the government lifted its strict "zero-COVID" policy that kept millions of people at home and sparked protests.
In December, China abruptly dropped near-daily coronavirus testing and QR code monitoring of residents after public frustration boiled over into protests in Shanghai and other cities. This month, it dropped most remaining restrictions, including the demand that travellers from overseas must go into lengthy and expensive quarantine.
"I would miss the Spring Festival and delay my return to work if I was quarantined twice. So inconvenient!" Wang Jingli said he decided to work through the holidays since his company would triple his overtime pay. With the COVID-19 restrictions cancelled, his children and wife will visit him in Beijing from their hometown in Henan province.