From temples to Disneyland, China shuts down to halt virus

China has quarantined cities and shut major tourist attractions from Disneyland to the Forbidden City and a section of the Great Wall as it scrambles to stop a deadly SARS-like virus from spreading further.

Hong Kong's Disneyland announced it was shutting its doors until further notice over the deadly virus outbreak in central China, a day after city authorities classified the crisis as an emergency.

A locked gate is seen after the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park has been closed, following the coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong, China.

File photo: Shanghai Disneyland said it would shut for an indefinite period "to ensure the health and safety of our guests and cast".

The drastic moves come as hundreds of millions of people criss-crossed the country in recent days to celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday, which officially started Friday and is typically a joyous time of gatherings and public celebration.

Employees wearing protective masks stand outside the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park that has been closed, following the coronavirus outbreak.

The historic Forbidden City, a sprawling imperial palace in Beijing that is one of the country's most revered cultural sites, will temporarily close from Saturday.

Security personnel wearing protective masks stand at the main entrance of the Forbidden City where a notice is seen saying that the place is closed to visitors for the safety concern following the outbreak of a new coronavirus.

A man wears a protective facemask to help stop the spread of a deadly SARS-like virus which originated in the central city of Wuhan, as he walks on the outskirts of the Forbidden City and a New Year instalation displaying a fish and the number 2020 in Beijing.

A security guard wearing a protective facemask to help stop the spread of a deadly SARS-like virus.

Security guards (L) and a paramilitary police officer (R) wearing protective facemasks stand at the exit of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

People pose for pictures in front of an entrance to the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall, which is closed to visitors, according to a notice in its tickets office for the safety concern following the outbreak of coronavirus.

Security guards stand behind the barrier at an entrance to the Badaling section of the Great Wall, which is closed to visitors in Yanqing district in Beijing, China

People walk past closed stores near an entrance to the Badaling section of the Great Wall, which is closed to visitors in Yanqing district in Beijing, China.

People stand in front of the closed tickets office to the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall, where a notice is seen saying that the place is closed to visitors for the safety concern following the outbreak of a new coronavirus, near Beijing, China.

People walk outside an entrance to the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall, which is closed to visitors, according to a notice in its tickets office for the safety concern following the outbreak of a new coronavirus, near Beijing, China.