Lockdowns and Travel Restrictions Impact Holiday Plans as Beijing Closes Restaurants and Attractions
This year’s May Day holiday in China is being observed quietly, with many citizens staying home as the government’s zero-COVID approach continues to restrict travel and impose lockdowns across multiple cities. In Beijing, all restaurants are closed to dine-in customers from Sunday through Wednesday, offering only takeout and delivery services. Parks and tourist attractions in the capital are limited to half capacity, and the Universal Studios theme park has temporarily shut down.
The impact of the pandemic varies across the country’s 1.4 billion people, but the Transport Ministry has reported that the number of trips taken during the holiday period is expected to be 60% lower than last year, with around 100 million journeys anticipated. Many travelers are staying within their home provinces, as local governments are discouraging or restricting cross-border travel to prevent the spread of new infections.
