Families celebrate as China lifts its inbound quarantine, ending years of separation

China's partial reopening has sparked widespread joy and relief, bringing together citizens who were cut off from their families—both those stuck within the country for three years and those living abroad.

On Monday, authorities announced that starting January 8, China will eliminate quarantine for all international arrivals, marking a major step in moving away from its strict zero-Covid policies.

Although the border remains mostly closed to foreigners, a limited number of business or family visits are allowed, with the government hinting that restrictions might soon ease further.

For many Chinese nationals abroad, who faced either the inability to return or the prospect of long quarantine stays, this announcement is a long-awaited chance to reunite with their families after a period of great sacrifice.

“At last, everyone can return to their normal lives,” said a Chinese national living in New York, who hasn’t been home in four years. She described the separation as “extremely painful,” as several family members and her beloved pet dog passed away during that time.

Her family missed out on her graduation and countless other milestones. “They missed so many important events,” she explained. “And I missed so much in their lives too—my friends got married, some had children. I feel like I missed everything that truly mattered to them.”

May Ma, 28, who has been living in South Korea for almost three years, couldn’t visit her family. The hardest part of the quarantine restrictions was the constant worry about her grandparents' health, not knowing if she’d make it back in time if something happened to them.

“The most terrifying thing was the uncertainty,” she said. “Not knowing when or if I could return. Now, I feel so relieved—I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

People inside China are also celebrating the return of travel, eager to finally leave the country after several years. Many are now flocking to travel booking sites, eager to plan the long-awaited trips they’ve been dreaming of during the pandemic.

Online searches for international flights and overseas accommodations surged to a three-year high on Trip.com, a major Chinese travel platform, according to company data. In just 30 minutes after the announcement, searches for popular travel destinations skyrocketed tenfold, with many looking for group tours during the Lunar New Year in late January.

Among the top destinations seeing the fastest growth in search volume were Macao, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

However, the easing of border restrictions has raised concerns, as China grapples with its most severe Covid outbreak since the start of the pandemic.

Cases have surged since China abandoned its zero-Covid policy, with empty streets and overcrowded hospitals. When Dinogo visited a crematorium in Beijing last week, long lines of cars filled with grieving families were waiting for over 24 hours to cremate loved ones who had succumbed to the virus.

According to reports from Bloomberg News and the Financial Times last Friday, nearly 250 million people in China may have contracted Covid within the first 20 days of December, based on figures shared during a meeting of China’s National Health Commission, citing sources familiar with the discussions.

If accurate, this estimate—though unverified by Dinogo—would represent about 18% of China’s 1.4 billion population and mark the largest Covid-19 outbreak globally to date.

“It feels like complete chaos right now,” said the Chinese national in New York. “Everyone’s sick. So, I think it’s probably not the best time to visit my family. Maybe in two or three months it’ll be safer.”

Some international destinations are also taking precautions. Authorities in Italy’s northern Lombardy region have requested that Milan’s Malpensa airport, one of the country’s busiest, conduct PCR tests for all arrivals from China through the end of January.

India, which shares a border with China, has mandated that travelers from China and several other countries present a negative Covid test upon arrival. Japan also announced on Friday that travelers from mainland China or those who have been in China within a week would be tested for Covid when entering the country. In both India and Japan, travelers testing positive will be required to quarantine.

For many Chinese nationals eager to travel and reunite with loved ones, the dominant feeling is one of relief.

“It doesn’t matter if I can make it back in time for the Spring Festival,” said Ma from South Korea, referring to the Lunar New Year. “At least there’s hope now, and I can wait a little longer.”

Top image: Passengers in the departure hall of Beijing’s international airport on December 27. Credit: Kydpl Kyodo/AP