West Lake in E China's Hangzhou partially opens to public

The parks of the West Lake Scenic Area in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, are scheduled to resume operation starting from Wednesday, according to the local management committee. Yet, all of the museums, former residences, attics and other buildings, will remain closed.

In a bid to ensure people's safety, the number of visitors entering the parks will be limited with the daily reception volume less than 50 percent of its passenger capacity. Also, visitors are required to produce a "green pass," or a QR code-based green-colored pass with which one can go freely across Hangzhou without worrying about coronavirus-related traffic restrictions, and have their temperature measured at the entrance. All need to wear masks during the visit.

Due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, the West Lake Scenic Area closed for 26 days from January 24. Large cruise ships and the musical fountain have been suspended as well.

So far, there are 168 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus pneumonia in Hangzhou.

Apart from the West Lake, Hangzhou has announced the reopening of the city's open-air parks, squares and stadiums. Cities of Shaoxing in Zhejiang province and Nanjing in Jiangsu province have also followed suit.