Crowded streets, overcrowded buses and filling up shops. In Beijing, a year after the start of the pandemic, life seems to have resumed its course. Even more impressive in nightclubs, we dance close together, forget barrier gestures and social distancing. “We are very satisfied because China has controlled the epidemic well and now our bar is no longer affected at all,” said the manager of the “La Social” bar, Pekin Yang. It’s hard to imagine that a year ago, Beijing was a ghost town. At the time, 21 million people holed up in their homes in fear. The capital recorded less than 1,000 Covid-19 contaminations. However, the virus is still worrying. The Chinese fear a second wave coming from abroad. To realize this, it is enough for our Western TV crew to get into a taxi. The driver doesn’t really appreciate our being on board. “It worries me a bit to take on foreign clients because the situation outside of China is really bad,” he says. Even more striking mistrust in a hotel, where our team tried to book a room. “We cannot accommodate foreign clients at this time,” says the receptionist. In the street, the Chinese do not take a favorable view of the behavior of Europeans in the face of the epidemic. Despite appearances, the city is not quite as before. Hygiene measures are everywhere, like in a busy noodle restaurant. And to further reduce human contact, there is no need for a waitress. Just scan a QR code and order your meals. Some still do not dare to go out for lunch, so home deliveries are increasing. Soon, an autonomous robot will replace the delivery men. About ten are already rolling through the streets of Beijing for express delivery without any contact. Even if the coronavirus is still in everyone’s mind, Beijingers are determined to make up for lost time. Whatever the freezing cold of winter, they are already throwing themselves into the next world.
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