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Something unusual occurred this year at Beijing's Yuebin Restaurant. The place is known for its tag－China's first private-sector eatery in the era of reform and opening-up. For only the second time in 40 years since opening shop in 1978, Yuebin halted its business for several weeks. COVID-related restrictions to reduce human contact ensured that, like in 2020 when it did so for the first time, again due to the pandemic.

In the normal course, the 40-square-meter restaurant keeps its doors open 365 days a year as its patrons include diners from all around the world, including tourists who throng the famed eating house.

"We take great pride in the fact that our family-themed restaurant has endured many a violent storm and other kinds of choppy weather over the past four decades. I had never expected that we would close our doors even for a day," said Guo Hua, the owner of Yuebin.