Wuhan minds the way to recovery

For the most part, a year since its lockdown was lifted, life in the city has returned to normal, but deeper scars remain

In Wuhan's Hongshan Gymnasium, Pei Haodong takes off his mask to play badminton, unfazed by the fact that the place was once a major battleground in the fight against COVID-19.

The gym was converted into a temporary hospital in early 2020. It helped overloaded hospitals to treat 1,124 COVID-19 patients before ceasing operations on March 10, when infections began to wane.

A year has passed since Wuhan, capital of Hubei province and the hardest-hit Chinese city during the outbreak, emerged from its strict lockdown, and vitality has returned to the gym. During the Qingming Festival holiday from April 3 to 5, it was fully booked by sports enthusiasts like Pei.