Once a symbol of resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic, Wuhan’s Huoshenshan Hospital, built in mere days at the onset of the outbreak in early 2020, now stands empty, hidden behind newly constructed walls. Much like the hospital, most physical traces of the pandemic have faded as the city moves forward and discussions about the crisis diminish.
On January 23, 2020, Wuhan became the epicenter of the world’s first Covid-19 lockdown, sealing itself off for 76 days. This drastic measure marked the beginning of China’s zero-Covid policy and foreshadowed the global upheaval to come.
Today, Wuhan’s lively shopping districts and crowded streets are a stark contrast to the eerie emptiness and overwhelmed hospitals of three years ago. “People are moving forward, and these memories are getting fuzzier,” said Jack He, a 20-year-old local student who experienced the lockdown during his high school years.
Fading Traces and Official Silence
At the former site of the Huanan Seafood Market, suspected to be the origin point of the virus, a light blue wall now obscures the shuttered stalls. Despite its significance, the site remains unmarked, and the city lacks major memorials to the lives lost.
Official narratives emphasize the heroism of medical workers and the efficiency of Wuhan’s response, but early censorship of the outbreak in December 2019 remains a point of international criticism.
Vendors at the relocated New Huanan Seafood Market remain reluctant to discuss the pandemic. Security precautions persist, with vendors wary of reporters and journalists being monitored.
A City of Heroes
One of the few remnants of the lockdown’s memory is an “anti-Covid-19 pandemic educational base” near the abandoned Huoshenshan Hospital. It features a timeline of the lockdown and images of President Xi Jinping’s visit in March 2020, though its exhibits are rarely accessible to the public.
As the fifth anniversary of the lockdown approaches, Wuhan has become a bustling hive of activity. Local markets are thriving, and fashionable streets like Chuhe Hanjie teem with life.
For locals like Chen Ziyi, the city’s increased attention has brought positive changes. “Now everyone pays more attention to Wuhan,” she said. “They say Wuhan is the city of heroes.”
