Showtime returns

Art scene rebounds as venues open their doors to a grateful and enthusiastic public, reports Zhang Kun.

Theaters and museums in Shanghai are busy holding events after reopening their doors to the public following the latest COVID-19 outbreak that resulted in a citywide lockdown.

Local authorities gave museums and galleries, as well as tourism venues, the green light to reopen on July 1. At present, 25 art galleries and 29 museums have reopened, said Jin Lei, deputy director of the city's culture and tourism administration, at a news conference on Wednesday.

Many of the city's residents have jumped at the opportunity to visit their favorite venues. At Shanghai Museum, for example, a long line of visitors formed on that morning.

"I was looking forward to visiting the museum after the outbreak," says a woman surnamed Yu, who was the first visitor to enter the venues. "I'm happy just to see whatever they have on exhibition."