After a two-month lock-up that confined residents of the megacity to their homes and battered China's economy, Shanghai has relaxed a range of Covid-19 restrictions.
The commercial hub of 25 million people was closed down in sections from late March when the Omicron virus variant caused China's worst outbreak since Covid first took hold in 2020.
Over the past few weeks, some rules were gradually relaxed, and on Wednesday, people in low-risk areas were allowed to move around the city freely. Businesses and factories were going to start working again.
This is a moment that we have been looking forward to for a long time, according to a statement from the municipal government.
On Wednesday morning, people were travelling on the subway and heading to office buildings, while some shops were getting ready to open. People took pictures of themselves on the streets.
People in the city spoke of their relief at the relaxation of restrictions. One 20-year-old who declined to give his name said that his community let off fireworks at midnight and that it felt like Chinese New Year.
A woman said she had a picnic with a few friends on the side of the river.
Some people expressed relief, but also fear that the lockdowns could return.
Wang, who only gave her name as Wang, said she was a little anxious about the future. It's a lot easier than being locked up. I told my boss that I would leave China if the city was locked down again.
The bright yellow barriers that had been in place for weeks were taken down.
The restrictions had hurt the economy of the city and caused resentment among residents.
The easing would affect 22 million people, according to the deputy mayor.
The malls, convenience stores, pharmacies and beauty salon will be able to operate at 75% of their capacity.
Schools and cinemas will slowly reopen on a voluntary basis after being closed since mid-March. Transport officials said that buses, subway and ferry services will resume.
Taxi services and private cars will be allowed in low-risk areas. The city government warned that the situation was not normal.
There is no room for relaxation at the moment in the consolidation of the achievements of epidemic prevention and control.
China has persisted with a zero- Covid strategy, which involves rapid lockdowns and mass testing to try to eliminate infections.
The task of speeding up economic and social recovery is becoming more urgent, as the economic costs of that policy have mounted.
Ahead of the easing, Chen Ying said that she would still work from home, but that she would treat her son to a walk outside.
We should have been free to begin with, so don't expect me to be grateful now that they have given it back to us, she told Agence France-Presse.
With Agence France-Presse.
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