Fireworks and chrysanthemums: three years after the confinement of Wuhan due to Covid, its inhabitants marked on Saturday January 21 the entry of China into the year of the Rabbit, by paying tribute to their deceased relatives.

This year takes on particular significance: since the lifting of health restrictions last December, China has faced an explosion of Covid patients, with at least 60,000 deaths linked to the disease, according to official figures.

A balance sheet undoubtedly underestimated for a population of 1.4 billion inhabitants, while many hospitals and crematoriums in the country appear overwhelmed.

"Friends and family left this year" because of the Covid, says Mr. Zhang, 54, his arms full of chrysanthemums.

"Our custom is to visit the families of the deceased with incense and flowers, after midnight on New Year's Eve," explains this Wuhanese met by AFP at the city's main flower market.

The metropolis on the banks of the Yangtze had reported the first world cases of what was then a mysterious killer virus at the end of 2019.

The 11 million inhabitants of Wuhan had been deprived of New Year's Eve in 2020, with strict confinement decreed on January 23, two days before the start of the year of the Rat.

It had lasted 76 days.

As tradition dictates, locals flocked to midnight Sunday (Saturday 4 p.m. GMT) to hand out chrysanthemums to families who have lost loved ones over the past year.

Several residents interviewed by AFP mentioned the Covid as the reason for the deaths.

Despite the late hour, street vendors are doing business on the sidewalks with their chrysanthemums, while residents burn funeral banknotes.

"Business was not good at all"

At the same time, firecrackers, sparklers and fireworks are lit to celebrate the new year, despite the ban in force.

Multicolored lanterns and pennants decorate the Jianghan shopping street.

"I love Wuhan" (I love Wuhan), proudly proclaims, with a heart, a banner.

"As everyone has already had the Covid, we can celebrate the New Year with dignity," said Ms. Zhu, black cap on her head, a resident of Wuhan who did not wish to give her full name.

On Saturday morning, at the largest flower market in Wuhan, the merchants were smiling.

During the three years of health restrictions, "business was not good at all," laments Ms. Liu, who has run a flower shop for 20 years.

But "business is picking up" since the measures were lifted last month.

“We have a lot more people buying flowers,” says Ms. Tao, another saleswoman who also does not want to give her full name for fear of reprisals.

"As many people have died from Covid in recent years, our chrysanthemums are selling very well," she says, perfecting a floral composition.

The 30-year-old believes that her customers are "more numerous than last year", to the point of having to work overtime for New Year's Eve.

In 2020, "the year of confinement, we had not sold any flowers", she recalls.

"We had to throw them all away."

With AFP

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