And just like that, April and May vanished from the calendar.

After weeks of climbing COVID-19 cases and targeted containment measures, Shanghai abruptly declared a staggered nine-day lockdown beginning March 28. It dragged on until the end of May.

The coronavirus infected more than 600,000 people and killed nearly 600 in Shanghai’s worst outbreak. The city’s 25 million residents, meanwhile, navigated unexpected challenges, as China’s COVID control measures upended their lives.

For many, the experiences of these two months left an indelible mark. These are their stories, in their own words.