Shanghai lifted its two-month COVID lockdown on Wednesday at midnight. Residents can go out of their compound, drive cars again, and meet their friends to celebrate.

The 25 million residents in the city endured two months of frustration, mental stress, and economic loss, and now feel a sense of relief about rediscovering freedom.

Life has changed. To enter public spaces or use public transportation, residents still need a negative nucleic acid test result from within the last 72 hours.

Some worry about another COVID-19 outbreak, while others have financial anxieties.

It’s now time for the city to heal.

Reporters: Lü Xiao, Chen Si, Fu Beimeng, Wu Huiyuan, and Ding Yining; Editors: Lu Yunwen and Qi Ya

(Cover photo by Zhou Pinglang)