The Lingering Shadows of COVID-19: Shanghai’s Struggles Five Years On

The effects of China's strict COVID-19 policies continue to haunt Shanghai’s residents. Amidst the transformation of neighborhoods and lives, many grapple with deep emotional scars from forced isolation and loss.

Five years have passed since COVID-19 dramatically reshaped life in Shanghai, and yet the emotional and psychological scars remain visible as residents confront their changed realities. The neighborhood of Menghua Jie, known as Dream Flower Street, stands as a stark testament to those years of struggle and isolation.

Local eatery owner Fu Aiying recalls the grim days of 2022 when her world shifted beneath her feet. "Bit by bit," she says, "the reminders of our harsh lockdown disappear," but the memories linger. During that time, she was forcibly quarantined for 39 days—an experience that left emotional marks deeper than any physical one could.

Once a bustling area, Menghua Jie has turned into a subdued place following the government’s plans to demolish its run-down structures, a move justified by officials who argue that the cramped conditions exacerbated the virus's spread. The streets are now lined with darkened shops and shuttered storefronts, save for a few like Fu's, fighting to survive in a sea of loss.

Residents like Fu have faced profound disruptions to their lives, their pride in being part of China's wealthiest city eroded by the harsh realities of food shortages and state-enforced separations from loved ones. “I don’t have a temper anymore. I don’t have a personality anymore,” Fu shares, expressing the stark emotional toll of her quarantine experience.

As the city strives to move beyond the pandemic era, the longing for a return to normalcy clashes with the undeniable truth of what has been sacrificed along the way. The traces of COVID-19 may fade from sight, but for many, the struggle to heal and reconnect continues unabated.