Shanghai opens, Beijing relaxes

The people of Shanghai have eagerly been waiting for this day. At yesterday midnight, the strict lockdown officially ended. Millions of people were allowed to leave their homes for the first time in two months. Many stayed awake, just to be able to walk out the door at midnight sharp. On social media, Shanghai’s citizens shared images of walking the streets at night or celebrating their regained freedom with a beer in hand. Others shared videos of workers removing barricades. “These were the hardest two months of my life. Now I will have to get used to going to work every morning again,” said a Shanghai woman from the Jing’an district: “I am disappointed with the government, but just happy to be able to get out again“.