GHOST TOWNS

Stricken Chinese cities transformed

After making sure everyone’s face mask is on and hand sanitiser is within reach, the Qiao family heads out to Jingshan Park, a former royal sanctuary beside the Forbidden City in Beijing. Snow has fallen for a second day, a rare event in the city of 21.5 million that would normally bring hundreds of thousands of people out to take photos and play. But the streets are empty and the parks are so quiet, the only sound is of birds chirping.

It’s not just Beijing. Shanghai, China’s financial hub, and other cities in the world’s most populous nation have turned into ghost towns after the government extended the Lunar New Year holiday and asked residents not to go out because of the coronavirus.

“We know the situation of the coronavirus is severe. But the epicentre is far away, so we think it should be fine here. … It’s a God-given chance to enjoy this family moment with snow and without work,” said Mr Qiao, who has an 11-yearold daughter.

The epidemic has killed more than 2,000 people and infected more than 75,000 in China as of last week. More than three-quarters of the cases are in the central Hubei province where the virus originated — more than 1,000 kilometres from Beijing.

Yet only a few people in the national capital are brave enough to come out. A security guard at Jingshan Park said the number of tourists was about one-third of what he normally sees, even with the rare snowfall.

Even at one of the best spots for snapping photos of snowy Beijing just outside the Forbidden City, there’s barely a crowd, while the usual tour buses and groups of people speaking different dialects are nowhere to be seen.

“Last year when it snowed, I took a few hours off work to come down here to take a picture and the crowd was several layers deep,” said a man in his 30s who gave his surname as Yang.

“But this year, I am not at all worried about finding a space to take a photo. The virus is keeping people indoors.”

Security guards along Wangfujing Street, a popular walking street and shopping area in downtown Beijing, said it was normally so crowded during the holiday period that it was hard to move around.

“Look at it now, there are more security guards and street cleaners than tourists!” said one of the guards.

Businesses, including shops, bars and restaurants, have been severely hit by the epidemic as the government has banned mass gatherings and even group meals in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.

“You would have to wait outside for a table on a normal day,” said a waitress at a restaurant with more than 50 tables. Just five were taken at the peak lunch hour.

Only a handful of the more than 100 restaurants along Beijing’s famous food street, Guijie, were open, and the remaining outlets were wondering how long they can hold out.

I’m not at all worried about finding a space to take a photo. The virus is keeping people indoors

YANG

Jingshan Park visitor

LEFT A police officer wears a mask as he walks in front of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Pudong, Shanghai.

ABOVE RIGHT Andrew, 24, and Lara, 25, drink at a nearly empty bar in Shanghai. Lara, who is from Hubei, said she’s not afraid of the coronavirus because she thinks the probability of catching it is very small.

Security personnel wearing face masks patrol Wangfujing Street in Beijing.

A car drives along a deserted main road in Shanghai.

RIGHT Ms Ren wears a face mask while she works out at Tiantan Park in Beijing. “When I go back home, I disinfect my shoes and take off my coat,” she says.

A woman wearing a face mask takes a selfie after a snowfall outside the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Few people are seen in a shopping mall in the Lujiazui financial district of Pudong, Shanghai, on Feb 5.