Looking back at 2020, looking forward to 2021 - Memories of a troubled year, hopes for a new dawn

Looking back, there had been a slow initial response at suppressing the initial outbreak in Wuhan. Consequently cases started rising rapidly in that city, not helped by people, failing to understanding or appreciate the need for social distancing, rushing to local hospitals that were then ill-equipped to deal with the scenario. The virus there started spreading as the Spring Festival holiday approaching. By the end of January, control of, indeed suppression had become a national issue. Actions that followed were fast, appearing in quick succession. Indeed such moves would ultimately prevent a nationwide, out-of-control, spread of COVID-19, consequently saving countless lives. Such a response allowed by mid-March a semblance of normality to start returning across China, except for Wuhan and surrounding parts of Hubei. They would open up later.

The lesson learned was, whenever there was an outbreak, an immediate response is essential to crush the reproduction and spread of such a virus. This subsequently proved effective when viral flare-ups happened, for example in Beijing, Qingdao, parts of northeastern China and so on. Similarly, the roll-out of health QR codes via smartphone technology, application of big data in tracing carriers, mass testing and targeted lockdowns have all been significant developments for China during 2020. Indeed with a recent localized outbreak in Beijing, I don't feel the paranoia or worry of the unknown that was there back in late January this year. Other factors that I will always remember have been the overall resilience and compliance of the people, helping ensure China has a very low fatality rate. Lives were saved.

This year indeed has become a learning experience in epidemic handling. Hopefully as we start into 2021, the threat of COVID-19 will hopefully significantly recede allowing an opening up for international travel, tourism and trade. Of course the year now passing will always have a complex mixture of feelings for many people, ranging from joy to deep personal sadness. Then there are the economic effects. It was indeed quite disturbing to be walking along empty streets with shops and restaurants closed. However, the prompt response in China did see the start to a new normality by March when many businesses, I was familiar with, reopening with customer numbers often approaching pre-epidemic levels. Unfortunately, some favorites have ceased trading.

While travel plans remained a dream, there were opportunities to look back over years of journeying through many parts of China, photographing the country's human diversity and physical beauty. Periods of isolating indoors provided the chance at last to archive what has become a very extensive collection of images going back over 33 years. It was a time to reflect on experiences gained both traveling extensively by railway while also effectively be in the country during periods of considerable economic and social change. A chance also to write about some of those moments while also describing the many images I had acquired of life during 2020, of periods where cities were going through and coming out of the different COVID-19 scenarios.

Initially I was reluctant and indeed nervous about traveling again. However I wanted to go back to Tianjin, by train. I desired to return to a passion of photographing more of that really fascinating city and its very story. Taking metro line 14 to Beijing South Station, wearing a mask throughout the entire journey proved reassuring. Indeed everything felt under control, a smooth transit and well organized. Using public transport again was a confidence-building exercise that eased any anxieties of using such facilities.

Heading again on the railways proved a stimulus to write a feature for China Daily on my memories watching the development of China's high-speed train service. A chance to recall the journey to Tianjin in August 2008 on one of the first services traveling at over 300 kilometers per hour south from Beijing lasting incredibly only 30 minutes.

Despite ongoing threats of COVID-19 reappearing in parts of the country, high-speed rail has continued to expand, opening the prospect for some future adventures. This month, Beijing West was connected to Xiong'an while newly opened rail services were improving connectivity in areas such as Shanxi, Ningxia and northwestern China. Ambitions for 2021, hopefully!