China brings down the curtain on its zero covid policy and reopens its borders
Travelers began pouring in through land and sea crossings from Hong Kong into mainland China on Sunday, many eager to reunite with loved ones after Beijing opened borders closed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After three years of closure, mainland China opens its borders with Hong Kong while ending the requirement for incoming travelers to undergo a quarantine, thus eliminating one of the last measures within the zero-Covid policy that protected the Chinese people from the virus but also isolated them from the rest of the world.
Last month, China began easing one of the world's strictest anti-Covid regimes after historic protests against a policy that included frequent testing, movement restrictions and sweeping lockdowns that have hit the second-largest economy.
Long lines lined up at check-in counters at Hong Kong International Airport to board flights to mainland cities including Beijing, Tianjin and Xiamen.
Hong Kong media estimated that thousands were crossing the border.
Investors hope reopening will eventually revitalize the economy, which is estimated to be worth $17 trillion and is suffering from its lowest growth rate in nearly half a century.
However, the sudden shift in policy led to a massive wave of infections that overwhelmed some hospitals and caused disruption to business.
The opening of the borders comes the day after the beginning of (Chun Yun), that is, the first 40 days of travel on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, which was considered before the pandemic the largest movement in the world for people to return to their regions to spend holidays with their families.
It is also expected that many Chinese will start traveling abroad, a long-awaited shift to tourist destinations in countries such as Thailand and Indonesia, but many governments concerned about the rise in Corona infections in China have imposed restrictions on travelers from the country.
On Sunday, China resumed issuing passports and visas for mainland residents, and ordinary visas and residence permits for foreigners.
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