One year after Wuhan, the capital city of China's central Hubei Province, emerged from its nearly three months of coronavirus lockdown, I joined together with other participating Chinese and foreign correspondents, in an event called "A date with China"-International Media Tour, and came to the city in late April. Not many traces were showing the city stood as the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak more than a year ago. But the people I met had a lot to say and the city has had its own way to honor those who had made tremendous sacrifices during the battle against the pandemic.

Chuhe Hanjie, a bustling commercial street in Wuhan

At Chuhe Hanjie, a famous retail street, photos of pandemic-fighting nurses were displayed at the exhibition "Meet in Spring" which ended on April 25; At Hubu Lane, a well-known street for serving breakfasts, the site for body temperature checks during the COVID period remains standing; At the China Architecture Science and Technology Museum, an exhibition hall was reserved to showcase the miracle construction of the Huoshenshan and Leishenshan, two major hospitals designated to take care of infected patients, recounting how the city and people from the rest of the country have united to succeed.

A time-honoured restaurant in Hubu Lane, a street in Wuhan known for breakfast specialty foods.

Memories of Wuhan residents

Peng Jingwen, a classical dancer at Yellow Crane Tower Park.

Peng Jingwen (in the middle) is performing the "Cloud Dance" with her team.

Graduated from Wuhan Dance Academy, Peng has been performing musical dance for over 11 years at Luo Mei Xuan, a venue inside the Yellow Crane Tower Park.

"I love my hometown Wuhan and I also love the profound ancient Chu State culture. From January 1-April 8, 2020, we suspended all the performances and had to rehearse at home. I'm happy to dance on the stage again."

A taxi driver surnamed Chen

The taxi driver surnamed Chen recalled the days he and his family had endured last year. It started on January 23, the day when the city was placed under lockdown and his job was stopped.

"We had experienced difficult days from the Lantern Festival (February 8, 2020) to early March as we were not allowed to leave the residential community unless we had a permission card and ordering vegetables and other daily necessities online was not available. But I appreciated what the local government had done."

Now the city has returned to its bustling and busy normal activities. Rush hours in the morning and evening have resumed; At the Hanyue Wharf, people have started taking cruises in the evenings to enjoy the marvelous views illuminated by the lights along the Yangtze River; At Chuhe Hanjie, families and friends go shopping or strolling and young music lovers can go out and sing in public; At the Mulan Huaxiang, a tourism hotspot in Dutang Village in suburban Wuhan, villagers have improved their lives thanks to poverty alleviation policies.

Flowers at Mulan Huaxiang

Robert Nani from Ghana and I are producing a video in the rain at Mulan Huaxiang.

Wuhan residents are getting back on their feet again and deservedly so.