Foreigners in Xi'an confident and upbeat amid outbreak

Though the recent outbreak of COVID-19 forced Raturi to close all his five restaurants in Xi'an, he remains optimistic. "It's a big loss, but only a short-time loss," he says, noting that strict management is necessary to tide over the current difficulties.

"The world was not under control in the past two years as cases are still jumping in many Western countries. But China did a very good job in controlling it. I am sure things will go back to normal soon, so we don't have to worry," he adds.

His confidence is rooted in a slew of epidemic prevention and control measures introduced recently. "We take a nucleic acid test almost every day, and community staff help us get daily necessities. They are very supportive and comforting."

"All is well," Puriya Daei, 32, told his family in Iran via video link. The young man came to Xi'an a couple of years ago to work in the apple business, as Shaanxi province, where Xi'an is located, produces about one-seventh of the total global apple output.

"I do not feel panic because China has taken comprehensive measures to deal with the virus. I've been fully vaccinated and take tests regularly," Daei says.

Despite rising confirmed cases in Xi'an, more and more people are gradually steering their life back to normality and picking up new hobbies. Pakistani student Alvi of Northwestern Polytechnic University has learned to cook several Chinese dishes and write Chinese characters recently.

"Cheer up, Xi'an," Alvi says in Chinese.

Xinhua