Thousands of Wuhan revellers flaunt social-distancing rules as they cram into a water park at the former COVID-19 epicentre
- Pictures show the outdoor park packed out by mask-free partygoers in Wuhan
- Visitors are seen standing shoulder to shoulder despite the COVID-19 pandemic
- Hubei has made hundreds of scenic spots free to enter to boost local economy
Thousands of Chinese partygoers have packed out a water park in the city of Wuhan as the former coronavirus ground zero edges back to normal life.
Pictures reveal the popular Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park being jam-packed by mask-free revellers as they stood shoulder to shoulder in water over the weekend despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The outdoor amusement park reopened in June after Wuhan gradually lifted a 76-day lockdown and strict restrictions to try and control the spread of the virus.
Thousands of Chinese partygoers have packed out the Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park, a water park in the city of Wuhan, as the former coronavirus ground zero edges back to normal life
Pictures reveal the popular Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park being jam-packed by mask-free revellers as they stand shoulder to shoulder in water over the weekend despite the pandemic
A performer in a stage show at the front of the water waved at the crowd, packed close and waving their arms back, some snapping photos on phones protected in plastic pouches
The park – which local media says has capped attendance at 50 percent of normal capacity – is offering half price discounts for female visitors.
A performer in a stage show at the front of the water waved at the crowd, packed close and waving their arms back, some snapping photos on phones protected in plastic pouches round their necks.
Another performer on a water jet board entertained his audience by hovering above them with sparks shooting from his back.
Some of the crowd had donned life jackets, but none of the tightly-packed partygoers were seen to be wearing face masks as a DJ in bright yellow headphones played on stage.
Other images see visitors smashing a giant block of ice with hammers or scrambling to pick up watermelon balloons during group games offered at the water park.
The outdoor amusement park reopened in June after Wuhan gradually lifted a 76-day lockdown and strict restrictions to try and control the spread of the virus. A performer on a water jet board entertained his audience by hovering above them with sparks shooting
The park – which local media says has capped attendance at 50 percent of normal capacity – is offering half price discounts for female visitors. Visitors are pictured playing a group game
The picture taken on Saturday shows a group of visitors scrambling to pick up watermelon balloons in the water during group games offered at the water park in the city of Wuhan
It comes after tens of thousands of Chinese visitors have swarmed to tourist attractions across Wuhan despite the global pandemic after officials made dozens of them free to enter.
Earlier this month, the provincial government of Hubei has offered citizens free entries to visit over 20 tourism destinations in the former coronavirus epicentre.
Social media footage shows large crowds of people standing together closely as they queue outside local scenic spots. Some even ditched wearing face masks.
China appeared to have largely brought the coronavirus outbreak under control through a series of lockdowns and restrictions.
But the country has recently seen a new spike of infections in the north-western province of Xinjiang and the north-eastern city of Dalian. Both regions have used draconian measures to fight the disease.
Earlier this month, the provincial government of Hubei has offered citizens free entries to visit over 20 tourism destinations in the former coronavirus epicentre. The picture shows people at a large swimming pool as they enjoy the weekend at the Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park
Thousands of Chinese partygoers have packed out the Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park, a water park in the city of Wuhan, as the former coronavirus ground zero edges back to normal life
The first known cases of COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan late last year, a city of 11 million people, before the virus spread across the world, killing hundreds of thousands and crippling economies.
The lockdown was lifted in April, and there have been no new domestically transmitted cases officially reported in Hubei province, where Wuhan is the capital, since mid-May.
To try and boost the local economy, the Hubei government has been offering free entry to 400 tourist sites across the province.
China has largely brought its domestic epidemic under control, but sporadic outbreaks and a summer of severe flooding have exacerbated the economic fallout.