Wang Lidan was making an emotional Lunar New Year trip from Beijing, where she works as a hairdresser, to her hometown in northeast China. It was the first time in three years that she had made the tour, after the government lifted strict “zero COVID” protocols that kept millions of people confined to their homes and sparked protests.
The relaxation of the restrictions gave free rein to the accumulated desires to travel, especially on the most important dates in China for family gatherings. The holiday, known in China as the Spring Festival, may be the only time a year that urban workers return to their home towns.
The Chinese government estimates that 2.1 billion trips will be made during a 40-day period around New Year’s Day, which falls on Sunday.
“The restrictions have been lifted, which reassured me. So I think it’s time to go home,” Wang said before entering the Beijing Railway Station for a trip to Heilongjiang province.
China abruptly halted near-daily diagnostic tests and QR code screening of the population in December after public frustration sparked protests in Shanghai and other cities. This month it withdrew most of the remaining restrictions, including a requirement for costly and lengthy quarantine for travelers from foreign countries.
Many local governments had introduced their own quarantine rules for travelers arriving from outside their area. It was those regulations that had prevented Wang from leaving Beijing, he said.
“If there was an outbreak in Beijing, I would have had to quarantine in my hometown. And when I got back to Beijing, I would have had to quarantine again,” she explained.
“I would miss the Spring Festival and delay my return to work if I did two quarantines,” he added. “Very uncomfortable!”
Hu Jinyuan, from the eastern province of Shandon, managed to return home every year despite complications. He said that he planned to maintain frequent COVID-19 tests and other preventive measures because infections have risen and hospitals are full after the lifting of restrictions.
“I do nucleic acid tests from time to time. When I get to my town, I will surely take a test as a form of self-protection. If not, I won’t know if I’m infected. If I am infected, I will isolate myself at home,” Hu said.
Wang Jingli said that he had decided to work during the holidays because his company would multiply the overtime wage. After the cancellation of COVID-19, his children and his wife will visit him in Beijing from his hometown in Henan province.
“With the reopening, everyone is very happy for the Spring Festival because we can get together with our families. But because of my work, I will spend my Spring Festival here in Beijing.”
Although the Lunar New Year has also become a popular time to travel abroad, airlines are still resuming international flights and government departments are just beginning to issue or renew travel documents.
Many countries have imposed testing requirements on travelers from China, prompting protests from the Foreign Ministry, and there are still concerns about the spread of the virus in China after the lifting of the measures.
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Associated Press writer Olivia Zhang contributed to this report.
