Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Beijing
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GUBEI WATER TOWN, China (Reuters) – The mock Qing dynasty village nestled below the Great Wall would normally be teeming with tourists on Labour Day, but the thin crowds on Friday showed that while China’s coronavirus epidemic has subsided, people’s fears could take longer to fade.
During holidays, some 100,000 visitors a day would traipse round the quaint stone-paved streets of Gubei Water Town, 110 kilometres (68 miles) northeast of Beijing. Its marketing manager reckoned on getting just a tenth of that number this year.
“People have concerns about the virus and are unwilling to travel long distances,” said Guo Baorong. For a start, there will be no international tourists this time, he said, noting foreigners would normally make up around 15% of visitors.
About 70% of China’s tourist attractions had reopened as of Thursday, according to China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, but all sites have had to cap visitors to 30% of designed capacity.
More sites, including the Forbidden City in Beijing, were set to reopen Friday.
Staff at the entrance to Gubei Water Town checked visitors’ temperatures and health tracking codes. And inside, lines on the ground directed tourists to stand one meter apart and stores used ropes to keep crowds from forming. Like everywhere in China since the lockdowns were imposed to stem the epidemic, everyone wore masks.
Still, in places where tourists squeezed together as the streets narrowed, staff shouted at them to spread out.
Some tourists enjoyed the smaller crowds.
Xiao Chen, a 24-year-old student wearing traditional Chinese garb known as “Hanfu” came to Gubei to take pictures around ancient architecture.
“It’s good to come out of the city. There was barely anyone in Gubei Water Town yesterday, and even today, it’s not crowded,” she said.
The tranquility may not last. Room bookings jumped on Thursday after Beijing and nearby areas began easing coronavirus restrictions, with about 90% of accommodation now reserved.
“We were not expecting that many people to come in,” said Guo.
(Reporting by Muyu Xu and Carlos Garcia Rawlins; Writing by Andrew Galbraith; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Beijing
People wearing face masks visit Gubei Water Town on the first day of the five-day Labour Day holiday, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, on the outskirts of Beijing
A woman wearing face mask and traditional Chinese clothing visits Gubei Water Town on the first day of the five-day Labour Day holiday, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, on the outskirts of Beijing
A man wearing face mask and traditional Chinese clothing visits Gubei Water Town on the first day of the five-day Labour Day holiday, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, on the outskirts of Beijing
Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Beijing
People wearing face masks visit Gubei Water Town on the first day of the five-day Labour Day holiday, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, on the outskirts of Beijing
People wearing face masks visit Gubei Water Town on the first day of the five-day Labour Day holiday, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, on the outskirts of Beijing
Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Beijing
Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Beijing
Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Beijing
Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Beijing
Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Beijing
Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Beijing
Visitor are seen on Tiananmen Square in Beijing
Visitor are seen on Tiananmen Square in Beijing
Visitor holds his mobile phone on Tiananmen Square in Beijing
Visitors are seen near the portrait of late Chinese chairman Mao Zedong in Beijing
Visitor poses for pictures on Tiananmen Square in Beijing
Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Beijing
Visitor wearing face mask poses for pictures near Tiananmen Gate in Beijing
Visitor in traditional costume poses for pictures near Tiananmen Gate in Beijing
Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Beijing
Visitors wearing face masks take pictures near Tiananmen Gate in Beijing
Visitor in traditional costume poses for pictures near Tiananmen Gate in Beijing
Visitor are seen on Tiananmen Square in Beijing
Visitors are seen near Tiananmen Gate in Beijing
Security officer stands guard near Tiananmen Gate in Beijing
Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Beijing
Paramilitary police officer stands guard near Tiananmen Gate in Beijing
