In this series, Wuhanese photographer Xiaojie Ouyang reveals snapshots of daily life as the city rumbles to life again, offering a message of hope for countries still waiting to regain some semblance of normalcy.
On April 8, Wuhan was freed from a 76-day quarantine that had placed 11 million residents in lockdown, preventing anyone from leaving the city. As the number of new cases dropped, people began making tentative steps to normality – businesses reopened and public transport resumed. But, with 3,869 official deaths and more than 50,000 recorded cases of coronavirus in Wuhan alone, the fear of a second wave lingers in the air.
ArrayXiaojie, can you remember when you first heard about COVID-19? What were your immediate thoughts and what was the atmosphere like in Wuhan at the time?
The first time I heard about COVID-19 was December 30, 2019. I remember it very clearly. Back then, I thought it was an infectious disease just like SARS based on the information online. So I made the decision to wear a face mask everyday to protect myself. The atmosphere in Wuhan at that time was quite relaxed, and most of the local citizens didn’t wear face masks due to the limited information about the coronavirus.
How long was Wuhan placed on lockdown? What was your experience of lockdown? How do you think it affected people being in such isolation?
Wuhan imposed its lockdown on January 23, 2020. All public transportation was stopped. We had to stay at home for most of the time during the quarantine. The atmosphere was quite tense as the coronavirus was relatively unknown throughout human history. Living in the epicentre, we had no idea what the future was going to be like, but the lockdown turned out to be effective in containing the spread of the coronavirus. It’s good to see everything is back to normal in Wuhan.
ArrayCan you talk through some of the photos you’ve been taking during this time? What compelled you to start taking photos?
I applied to join the volunteer team in the local community on March 2. So I had the chance to help and gained a better view of the situation in Wuhan. Most of the photos were taken on my iPhone in my spare time.
Is there a particularly memorable photo that you’ve taken so far, and if so, can you tell us the story behind it?
I really like the photo I took along the Changjiang River, where members of a girl group were dancing without wearing face masks on April 15. It gave me a sense of hope and energy.
What’s the situation like now in Wuhan, are things relatively back to normal?
Wuhan, once hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, has seen its daily life gradually return to normal since its severe lockdown in January. Public transportation, markets and stores have reopened. Meanwhile, dine-in services at restaurants have gradually resumed. Everything is back on track. The atmosphere is less solemn than it was before.
