And just like that, April and May vanished from the calendar.
After weeks of climbing COVID-19 cases and targeted containment measures, Shanghai abruptly declared a staggered nine-day lockdown beginning March 28. It dragged on until the end of May.
The coronavirus infected more than 600,000 people and killed nearly 600 in Shanghai’s worst outbreak. The city’s 25 million residents, meanwhile, navigated unexpected challenges, as China’s COVID control measures upended their lives.
For many, the experiences of these two months left an indelible mark. These are their stories, in their own words.
“The lockdown was unimaginable.”
Li Xianglun and his living conditions. A pass (top right), issued on May 7, allowed Li to leave home for four hours a day during the last three weeks of the lockdown.
I would describe the lockdown as unimaginable. I rent a single room, live alone, and use a public toilet. I have a gas stove by the stairs that I use for cooking. I was locked down at home from April 1. I felt there was no day or night. I slept and ate at different times compared to normal, and often couldn’t sleep due to anxiety. Every day was the same and consisted of doing nucleic acid and antigen tests, with little hope of an end. On April 30, I argued with volunteers over food distribution. They called dozens of us outside, but they would only hand out food in the order of apartment numbers. In the face of a major outbreak, you are too tiny to control anything, even your temper. I’ve loved reading books and writing since childhood. For 20 days during the lockdown, I would spend one to two hours a day writing around 1,000 words, which helped calm my emotions. Some things must be written down.
Li Xianglun is a migrant worker from Hubei province. He lives in Jiading, a suburban district.
“I’ll never forget thinking about how I would be able to feed my family the next day.”
Before the lockdown, I was planning a surprise birthday party for my 6-year-old daughter. After two weeks into lockdown, I was getting worried about sourcing food for the next day for my family of four. By then, our refrigerator only had two pieces of meat and a few vegetables. We couldn’t buy anything since our neighborhood committee had banned group purchases. I never imagined there would be a day that a city like Shanghai would face food shortages. I just remember standing in front of my refrigerator one night and freaking out. I’ll never forget thinking about how I would be able to feed my family the next day.
Shen Dongmei is a 34-year-old primary school teacher. She lives in Xuhui District with her mother-in-law, husband, and daughter.
“I was devastated when I found my grandmother had died one morning, but the first thing I had to do was upload my antigen self-test result.”
My grandmother had been in hospital since the beginning of the year after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. During the lockdown, my mother told me she was in the ICU and I may need to be prepared for the worst. I felt I had to go see my grandmother for the last time. I talked to my counselor to get an exit permit but I felt like I was speaking to the institution, not a person. I was repeatedly being told to fill in relevant forms and would only be able to see her if I met the criteria. I was devastated when I found my grandmother had died one morning, but the first thing I had to do was upload my antigen self-test result. Some of my professors, and other people, comforted me. I experienced both the coldness of the system and the kindness of people during the lockdown. If I swallow this grief by myself, it may become a scar. If I have to blame some of the policies or people, that’d be like telling a joke.
Chen Meixi is a 23-year-old student at a university in Shanghai. She is originally from Sichuan province.
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