See you again?

Departure is a final farewell for some, but it is also a long-awaited break for others.

A Chongqing native who declined to give his name said he would not return to Shanghai.

The 50-something man worked on a construction site after arriving in the city in late February, but after just a few days, the project was suspended because of COVID-19, leaving him with no livelihood. "So, I wanted to leave the city where I felt frustrated," he said.

Zhu, the auditor from Wuhan, said she would be happy to visit Shanghai again for business or pleasure.

"This fashionable and international city had left me with a good impression in the past, and I'm confident about epidemic control in the country," she said. "I'll visit again if things return to normal."

Hao, the Xuzhou native, regarded her departure as a delayed homecoming. "I will visit Shanghai again," she said, adding that she will consider returning to the city and continue housekeeping work if life and business return to normal later this month.

She said that, despite returning to her hometown, she is following Shanghai's epidemic situation and the relevant preventive measures.

"I still quite like Shanghai, where things are diverse and inclusive, with more good job opportunities. That not only means a better salary, but I can also broaden my horizons," she said.