Sébastien Le Belzic, edited by Yanis Darras 10:58 a.m., January 20, 2023, modified at 11:59 a.m., January 20, 2023

After three years of "zero covid" policy, the Chinese can again travel without health restrictions in their country.

A boon as the Middle Kingdom prepares to celebrate its New Year. Nearly two billion journeys are expected this weekend, with the risk of spreading Covid-19 even more quickly across the nation.

It hadn't been relevant for three years.

In China, after the lifting of health restrictions linked to Covid-19, the great crossover on the occasion of the Chinese New Year is making a comeback.

Nearly two billion journeys planned for this weekend.

So, bundle on his shoulder, Liang makes his way through one of Beijing's crowded stations. 

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Change of strategy

The man is what is called, in the Middle Kingdom, a mingong, a migrant worker from the countryside, who tries his luck in the Chinese capital, where he works as a waiter in a restaurant.

For the first time in three years, he returns home to see his family in the provinces for the Chinese New Year and celebrate the entry into the year of the rabbit, a symbol of balance, harmony and peace.

A journey of nearly 3,000 kilometers, without health restrictions.

It must be said that after almost three years of “zero covid” policy, the Chinese government has finally changed its strategy, faced with the discontent of its population and the sluggishness of its economy. 

"I want to see my family"

From now on, Liang can cross his country with a simple mask, compulsory in transport nevertheless.

"My salary was very low because of covid. Sometimes I couldn't even go to work. I haven't been home for three years and now that the restrictions are lifted I want to go home. It doesn't matter that I have money or not. I want to see my family", he explains at the microphone of Europe 1.

And he will not be the only one who wants to find his loved ones after three years of forced separation.

More than 2 billion journeys are expected for his holidays, almost double last year, with the risk of seeing the Covid-19 spread throughout the country like wildfire.

According to international experts, China could record during these holidays up to 36,000 deaths per day.