Coronavirus brings Shanghai to a standstill

The deadly coronavirus epidemic has brought much of China to a standstill, but perhaps nowhere has the change been more stark than in the country's biggest and most vibrant city.

Gone are the traffic jams, crowded sidewalks and businessmen hurrying to work, replaced by eerily empty roads, shuttered bars and businesses, and only the occasional pedestrians - always behind a protective mask.

Shanghai is the most populous of China's many mega-cities, but its usual gathering points look like they were hit with a neutron bomb.

The scenic Bund riverfront is normally filled with gawkers taking in the European neo-classical architecture on one shore, facing a futuristic financial district on the other.

Shanghai's slumber is due partly to a more than week-long city extension of the Lunar New Year holiday to help combat the virus.

Shanghai has avoided the full or partial lockdowns seen in other parts of China.

But residents are largely complying with official directives - issued via mass text messages or over blaring public loudspeakers - to avoid going outside unless absolutely necessary.

A deserted thoroughfare at the usually busy Hongkou district in Shanghai.

When they do, pedestrians often move far to one side of the pavement to avoid other approaching residents.

The city's subway system, one of the world's longest, has made masks mandatory, as has nearly every business that remains open.

Deserted roads at the usually busy Lujiazui financial district in Pudong, Shanghai.

A man walks along a deserted street in Shanghai.

A deserted street is seen in Shanghai.

People wearing protective facemask walk in the usually busy Lujiazui financial district in Pudong, Shanghai.

People wearing masks are seen at Lujiazui financial district in Pudong, Shanghai.

A man wearing a protective facemask walks in the usually busy Lujiazui financial district in Pudong, Shanghai.

A man wearing a mask is seen at Lujiazui financial district in Pudong, Shanghai, China.

A man wearing a protective facemask rides a bus in Shanghai.

A man wearing a protective face mask walks along the usually busy Bund waterfront along the Huangpu River overlooking Shanghai’s financial district.

A general view shows the usually full Hongqioa train station in Shanghai.

A man wearing a protective facemask walks in the usually busy Lujiazui financial district in Pudong, Shanghai.

A man wearing a mask is seen at Lujiazui financial district in Pudong, Shanghai.