Five years since the world’s first Covid-19 lockdown, Wuhan has emerged from the shadows of its pandemic past. The bustling streets, lively markets, and busy shopping districts today starkly contrast the eerie emptiness and fear that gripped the city in early 2020 when it became the epicenter of a global health crisis.
On January 23, 2020, Wuhan sealed itself off for 76 days as it faced the then-unknown coronavirus. This decisive lockdown marked the beginning of China’s stringent zero-Covid policy and foreshadowed the massive disruptions that would ripple across the globe. The city became synonymous with the pandemic’s origins, a label it now seeks to shed as it looks to the future.
The once-celebrated Huoshenshan Hospital, constructed in mere days to treat Covid-19 patients, now stands empty behind newly built walls, a fading relic of the city’s battle against the virus. Similarly, the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market believed to be the virus’s point of crossover from animals to humans remains shuttered and obscured by barriers. Discussions about the pandemic’s early days remain muted, reflecting an official push to shift focus away from Wuhan’s role in the crisis.
Memorials to the lockdown are sparse. The city’s narrative emphasizes the heroism of healthcare workers and the rapid mobilization of resources, sidestepping international criticism of the initial censorship of Covid-19 cases. At the site of the abandoned Huoshenshan Hospital, a petrol station serves as an unassuming “anti-Covid-19 pandemic educational base,” showcasing a timeline of the lockdown and photos of President Xi Jinping’s visit in March 2020. Yet, even this exhibit is only accessible during official visits.
Despite the lack of overt memorials, Wuhan locals are moving on. “These memories are getting fuzzier,” said Jack He, a 20-year-old university student who was in high school during the lockdown. Many residents, like He, have embraced the new normal, with bustling markets and vibrant streets replacing the silence of 2020.
The city has also found a silver lining in its newfound prominence. Chen Ziyi, a 40-year-old resident, noted an uptick in tourism, with visitors drawn to what many now call the “city of heroes.” For Wuhan, the label represents resilience and renewal, as the city seeks to redefine its identity beyond the pandemic.
As the anniversary of the lockdown passes, Wuhan’s transformation underscores its determination to move forward, leaving behind the scars of its past while embracing a future of hope and vitality.
