Spring Yet to Come: Small Businesses at Beijing’s Tourist Hot-Spots Struggle

Stools are turned upside down in a cafe that is closed for regular business but open for takeout in the Wudaoying Hutong, one of the top tourist destinations in Beijing, as the spread of the CCP virus continues in China, on April 10, 2020. Thomas Peter/Reuters

BEIJING—For Zhang Yu, who runs a cafe in one of Beijing’s top tourist spots, business has never been so bad.

To contain the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, bars and cafes in the Wudaoying hutong—a top Lonely Planet destination built around a narrow lane—are permitted to provide take-away services only. Non-residents must show proof they have an appointment to enter the area.