This archive report was first published on 3 August 2020.
On August 3, 2020, thousands of Chinese beer lovers gathered at the Qingdao beer festival, marking a return to relative normalcy in the country's fight against COVID-19.
China had largely brought the coronavirus outbreak under control through a series of lockdowns and restrictions, and the small number of cases reassured beer-lovers to turn out in large crowds.
The annual festival, which runs until late August, features over 1,500 types of beer and offers a chance for people to go back to 'normal life and clink glasses,' according to State broadcaster CCTV.
Many revellers walked around the enormous venue in Shandong province mask-free, with long tables packed with merry drinkers in scenes reminiscent of pre-COVID-19 days.
However, not all was entirely as normal, with the central 'Beer City' limited to 30 percent visitor capacity, staff wearing masks, and visitor temperatures and health codes checked.
Imported beer containers were also being tested for the virus and disinfected before entering the venue, officials said, after several local clusters in China were linked to imported food.
The seaside resort is the home of Tsingtao, one of the most popular beers in China and the most exported around the world. The brewery was set up while Qingdao was under German colonial rule between 1898 and 1914.
China reported 43 new coronavirus infections on Monday, August 3, 2020.
