Postcards from Wuhan: One year on, residents share lockdown memories, hopes for 2021

In China's Wuhan, the original epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak, the city's residents are returning to normal life, even as they continue to grapple with memories of the early outbreak, which struck fear in the city.

. It's been almost seven months since the city recorded a locally transmitted case of the disease due to a strict city-wide lockdown and a mass testing event of almost all the city's 11 million residents.

. Today, restaurants, shopping streets and bars are crowded, but locals are still experiencing the lasting impact of the lockdown on mental health and work.

. Reuters asked people throughout Wuhan to share images and videos they took during their outbreak, as well as their hopes for 2021, as the city approaches the one-year anniversary of the outbreak. City health officials released the first public notice of the then-unknown virus on Dec. 31, 2019.

. Like the city itself, most people are enduringly optimistic, even as they reflect on the city's toughest year in recent memory.

. An Junming, Wuhan volunteer : An worked as a volunteer during the city's strict 76-day lockdown, delivering food to people trapped in their homes.

. "At that time, I could only eat one meal a day, because there was indeed a lot of work to do, but there were very few people doing this, so I was very anxious.

. "I hope that the entire city will prosper in 2021.

. "It can be said that in 2020 there were no people on the streets of the whole Wuhan - only animals were active outside."

. Zhang Xinghao, lead singer of Wuhan band 'Mad Rat' : "At that time, I couldn't do anything at home. It was very boring, so I thought I needed to write some music and sing some songs to find some fun in my life.

. "It made me reflect on a lot of things, and it is the first time in my life that I have experienced such a disaster.

. "The epidemic must not be ignored. I see that the news about foreign countries has a lot of infections, so this must not be ignored. We should not think that we are very powerful. In fact, I think we humans are quite fragile."

. Duan Ling, 36, businesswoman : Duan's husband, Fang Yushun, caught Covid-19 in February while working as a surgeon.

. "I had my birthday on the day he was hospitalised during the epidemic, and he spent a day editing and sent a video to me. So I felt very moved.

. "We have experienced a lot of things in the year 2020, and I want to say goodbye to the 2020. But in the new year, I wish we could have a baby."

. Lai Yun, 38, Japanese restaurant owner : "At this time, every one of us in Wuhan feels like time flies very fast. Like closing the city only feels like yesterday."

. Lai said he cherished memories of his children putting on performances in the family living-room.

. "I think the inspiration that Covid-19 gives us is that a healthy body is more important than anything else."

. Wu Mengjing, 22, design student : "I think the Wuhan epidemic has affected too many people. Many companies went bankrupt and residents were unemployed. This has a great impact on the entire development of Wuhan.

. "I am very worried that there will be a second wave in Wuhan, because there were some recurrences of the epidemic in various parts of the country, and the number of college students in Wuhan is particularly large."

. Jiang Honghua, 34, street food vendor : "During the epidemic, our whole family is together, and this time like this is very rare, and I felt very happy,” said Jiang, sharing photos of her son and daughter playing.

. "I thought my year in 2020 was actually OK - I felt lucky that I could maintain the livelihood of the whole family. I hope in year 2021 I can have good business."

. Liu Runlian, 58, street dancer: "2021 is coming, and I don't expect much from myself. But I want to live a peaceful life, and then I hope everyone is safe."

Postcards from Wuhan: One year on, residents share lockdown memories, hopes for 2021

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