Traveling

People walk past shops in a hutong alley in Beijing, China, 31 December 2022. (Florence Lo/Reuters)

What has changed in Beijing post-pandemic?

Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong shares her observations of a post-pandemic Beijing, noting the subtle differences in consumer habits and the people’s reluctance to talk about politics. How will China continue to change on its path of 'China-style modernisation'?
People visit a traditional Spring Festival flower market which reopened after closure due to the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, on 20 January 2023. (AFP)

Is China finally seeing the end of the pandemic?

Despite worries that Covid infections would rise sharply after the Chinese New Year period, statistics show that earlier fears were unfounded. The sudden change has netizens speculating if “solar storms” helped to quell the virus. Can China really expect clearer skies ahead?
People at the market in Zhangjiajie, 8 January 2023.

How a rural village of elderly residents is coping with Covid-19 during CNY

With Chinese New Year around the corner, the wave of human movement during the period could trigger a fresh wave of Covid-19 in China, not least in the rural areas with its villages and less than readily available healthcare. Zaobao correspondent Wong Siew Fong recounts her visit to a rural area in Zhangjiajie to find out if the rural villages are prepared to handle a surge in Covid-19 cases.
People visit Yu Garden ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit, in Shanghai, China, on 9 January 2023. (Hector Retamal/AFP)

China's 'China speed' reopening and its impact on the world

China’s reopening to the world on 8 January has led to hopes that the Chinese economy will rebound sooner and faster than expected. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Chen Jing speaks with experts and business owners to find out the obstacles ahead for China, and how China's reopening will impact the regional and global economy.
A South Korean soldier wearing personal protective equipment guides a group of Chinese tourists for Covid-19 tests upon their arrival at the Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, 4 January 2023. (Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters)

China-South Korea relations challenged amid tit-for-tat travel controls

Since last month, China and South Korea have been engaged in a tussle of tit for tat when it comes to Covid-19 travel controls. From visa suspensions to “yellow tags” on Chinese travellers entering South Korea, it remains to be seen whether the current back and forth will affect months of China’s diplomatic efforts with South Korea, especially since Yoon Suk-yeol took office.
Passengers are seen upon their arrival at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China, on 8 January 2023. (Hector Retamal/AFP)

China’s international air travel resumes, but Covid turbulence to delay takeoff

While China has reopened its borders, scrapping quarantine requirements for inbound travellers and removing restrictions on international flights, questions remain as to how quickly cross-border travel will return to pre-Covid levels, and how the rampant Covid-19 outbreak nationwide will temper the recovery in demand.
Passengers from China's Xiamen arrive at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport after China reopens its borders amid the Covid-19 pandemic, in Bangkok, Thailand, 9 January 2023. (Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)

How China and ASEAN could help each other transition to the new normal

Researcher Peng Nian notes that China’s efforts to strengthen its relations with ASEAN through building a “community with a shared future for mankind” could ramp up as its borders reopen. While it may take time for the ASEAN member states to open their arms again to China, progress is far from being at a standstill.
People walk through a shopping district in Hong Kong on 22 December 2022. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP)

Is Hong Kong still a shopping paradise for mainland Chinese shoppers after the pandemic?

Lianhe Zaobao journalist Tai Hing Shing examines the reasons for the seeming initial lack of enthusiasm in travelling from mainland China to Hong Kong, including slow visa processing and changing consumer habits. Will traveller numbers pick up over the next few weeks or months?
Commuters ride an escalator in Shanghai, China, on 20 December 2022. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg)

How China bolted from zero Covid towards herd immunity

China has announced the long-awaited transition from zero Covid to opening up, as inbound travel measures ease and mandatory quarantines are removed. However, the process will not be easy as medical resources are short and vaccination rates among the elderly are still low. Will China be able to handle the internal and external pressures of what is to follow after opening up? Zaobao correspondent Yang Danxu tells us more.