As coronavirus spreads across China, cities resemble ghost towns, residents show how to kill time

Several countries are scrambling to evacuate their nationals from China, and in particular Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. The city of 11 million is in lockdown as authorities try to contain the virus.

In fact, several cities in China, including its capital Beijing and financial capital Shanghai, resemble ghost towns. Very few people seem to be taking the risk of leaving their homes for fear of being infected by the virus.

Schools, offices, restaurants and cinemas remain closed to keep people from gathering. Social media users are telling stories of empty streets and isolated public areas.

An empty metro in Beijing. (AP Photo: Mark Schiefelbein)

Falling on Chinese New Year, the unprecedented situation also has social media users desperately trying to entertain themselves.

Creativity — and boredom — is at its highest, as videos show people killing time at home. One video shows a man counting rice, while another shows how a woman made her house a carnival for her children. In another video, neighbours are seen catching up on the roof.

Here are some tweets where users have posted photos and videos of how empty the streets are

Walking around one of Beijing’s most popular streets and malls during dinner time… and it’s nearly completely empty amid escalating fears of the #CoronavirusOutbreak. Even Starbucks and KFC are closed. ⁦ @QuickTake⁩ pic.twitter.com/OzPD7O0LC1

— Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) January 29, 2020

An empty subway station in Beijing at peak afternoon hours

Subway completely empty at 1:30pm in Beijing. Kind of creepy #coronarvirus #WuhanCoronovirus pic.twitter.com/9UdgwInf4K

— 🤦🏻‍♂️ (@kinkumpoop) January 28, 2020

What an empty mall looks like in China

For the people who want to know what it’s like to be in an empty mall in #China during the #CoronaVirus outbreak… It’s very weird. #Shanghai has become a #GhostTown!

FYI, it’s the Super Brand Mall.#ChinaCoronaVirus #CoronaOutbreak pic.twitter.com/LlDndgOPz4

— Le French Mulu (@le_french_mulu) January 29, 2020

Manya Koetse also had a suggestion of how to kill time if you are amid the lockdown in China…

How to survive staying indoors during #coronavirus lockdown according to these very important videos making their rounds on Chinese social media. Firstly: don't be afraid to express your feelings and get in touch with your emotions. pic.twitter.com/xd8yj73dtx

— Manya Koetse (@manyapan) January 27, 2020

China’s Global Times and South China Morning Post also published videos on how to kill time if you are stuck at home

How do Chinese people kill time at home amid the coronavirus outbreak? Due to the #coronavirus outbreak, #SpringFestival vacation has been extended. Chinese people, bored from being stuck at home, are killing time in amusing ways. pic.twitter.com/sOYKZmFLAF

— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) January 30, 2020

From beauty regimens to homemade carnival games, residents stuck at home found ways to entertain themselves amid the coronavirus lockdown pic.twitter.com/rTFfRAsEjM

— SCMP News (@SCMPNews) January 30, 2020

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