China's COVID-19 epicentre eases travel restrictions after lockdown

Trains packed with thousands of passengers arrived in Wuhan Saturday as the Chinese city that was Ground Zero for the global coronavirus pandemic partly reopened after months in lockdown.

Returnees, some wearing two face masks, latex gloves and protective suits, were greeted at the railway station by staff in similar anti-virus gear - a grim reminder that while the city was emerging from isolation, it was still far from normal

With the outbreak deemed under control, rules have been eased to allow people to enter the city and many trains had been fully booked days in advance.

Restrictions on residents heading out of Wuhan will not be lifted until April 8 when the airport will also reopen for domestic flights.

Travellers were allowed to leave the train station on Saturday after showing a green code on a mobile app to prove they are healthy.

Mask-clad passengers wait in a line after arriving at the railway station in Wuhan.

Mask-clad passengers wait in a line after arriving at the railway station in Wuhan, China's central Hubei province.

Passengers wearing masks arrive at the railway station in Wuhan, China's central Hubei province.

The Chinese city of 11 million people that was Ground Zero for what became the global coronavirus pandemic partly reopened on March 28 after more than two months of almost total isolation.

People wearing face masks wait for a subway train on the first day the city's subway services resumed following the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Wuhan of Hubei province

Passengers wearing face masks arrive at a railway station in Wuhan on the first day inbound train services resumed following the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

Passengers wearing face masks ride a subway train on the first day the city's subway services resumed following the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Wuhan of Hubei province

A staff member wearing a face mask holds a placard while standing among passengers on a subway train, on the first day the city's subway services resumed following the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Wuhan of Hubei province.

People wearing face masks arrive at a railway station in Wuhan on the first day of inbound train services resumed following the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

People wearing face masks as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 novel coronavirus commute on a train, one of the stops being Wuhan, in Danyang.