Beijing and Shanghai ease Covid restrictions as outbreaks fade

Residents wearing face masks walk through a reopened shopping mall decorated with colourful flowers in Beijing (Andy Wong/AP)

Shoppers returned to the malls of Beijing on Sunday as the Chinese capital relaxed pandemic restrictions after declaring a small but persistent Covid-19 outbreak effectively under control.

A partial reopening of stores and offices in Beijing was welcomed by weary residents and struggling shopkeepers eager for life to return to normal.