Letter from Beijing: Refiners hoping for summer rebound

Easing of Covid restrictions looks set to lead to surge in domestic travel

China’s worst Covid flare-up since the initial outbreak in Wuhan two years ago is finally subsiding, helping build momentum in the domestic travel sector and the wider economy. There are clear signs life in financial hub Shanghai is normalising after a crippling two-month lockdown that prompted draconian curbs on travel and economic activity. Residents were permitted to dine indoors at restaurants on Wednesday for the first time since March, while Disney said its sprawling theme park would reopen on Thursday. The tentative easing of Covid restrictions in Shanghai and other key cities such as Beijing comes ahead of the summer travel season. Traffic jams have already returned, with a congestio