Changed plans

Unlike Hao and Zhu, who were eager to return to their hometowns, a train passenger surnamed Wang had mixed feelings about the Shanghai lockdown.

The native of Jiaozuo, Henan province, resigned her job at the end of last year, intending to find a new one this year.

The 35-year-old, who declined to give her full name, arrived in Shanghai in early March, partly to see her younger brother's newborn baby but also to seek job opportunities. However, after spending more than 70 days at her brother's home in Xuhui district, she said she began to feel anxious.

"I'm not sure what kind of job I can find in the city. Also, I don't know whether I should continue to help look after the baby," she said.

"The epidemic has changed my plans a lot. Living with my brother's family without an income made me feel uncomfortable, even though they didn't complain to me. I didn't need to worry about the food supply during the outbreak, but it's time to rethink my plans and find a new way of earning a living. Half the year has already gone by."

She noted that Shanghai's retail businesses may need time to recover from the outbreak.

"I have decided to return to Jiaozuo by train and find something to do first, and also spend time with my parents," she said.