As much of the world this week extends lockdowns or issues self-isolation orders, countries are casting their gaze to China to see what life may look like on the other side of COVID-19.

The novel coronavirus, which was first reported in Wuhan in December 2019, quickly spread across China and then the globe, causing mass disruptions and closing down entire cities and even countries.

Now, after almost two months of strict containment measures, including travel bans and centralized quarantine, life in Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai is starting to feel a little more normal for those who have weathered the storm. With domestic transmission virtually at zero, streets are slowly getting busier as people return to work, and restaurants and shopping malls are tentatively preparing to reopen.

Even so, restrictions are still in place to keep residents safe and contain COVID-19, just in case it rears its head again. People in China are used to the "new normal" of temperature checks, mandatory masks and social distancing.

When I returned from South Korea in late January, I was told I would need to self-isolate at home. I ordered food and water for two weeks and went into quarantine in my apartment, as many people all over the world are doing now. After a fortnight of solitude, I was told to continue working from home and not to gather with friends or go to crowded places. As a non-essential worker, my bedroom became a makeshift office.

Two months later, I still spend about half of my time working from home to limit contact with colleagues. I require an entry card to prove I live in my building. Only residents of the community can enter the compound, meaning I cannot have friends or colleagues over. Work meetings are now done from my smartphone, and my WeChat is constantly buzzing with the latest updates from editors.

Aside from staying away from work, life in Beijing – for me, at least – is almost back to normal. The reason for this is that China's capital city has always been one of convenience. As usual, you can order virtually any food delivery to arrive within 30 minutes and call a taxi to pick you up in three. The subways are emptier, but they continue to function, and almost everything can be done via your smartphone. None of this changed when the virus hit.

Delivery is such an integral part of Chinese life, far more so than in other countries, that quarantined residents have had little difficulty in keeping fed. Many communities have rounded up volunteers to deliver food and water and remove rubbish for the sick and elderly and the thousands who remain in quarantine. The only difference when ordering food in lockdown is that as communities are closed, delivery drivers can no longer enter compounds to leave food, water and groceries at the door.

To combat this problem, communities have built makeshift "contactless booths" where drivers can drop off deliveries and residents can pick them up later, stopping the potential spread of the virus.

Once quarantine is over, life involves wearing a mask anytime you step outside and having your temperature checked between six and ten times per day. You must register in each shop or restaurant you enter to help trace you should you come into contact with someone newly infected.

When China's lockdown first went into effect in late January, all non-essential services were cut and non-essential staff were told to work from home. Supermarkets were one of the only places which remained open. Then, as people came out of quarantine, going to the supermarket became a reason for getting out of the house, so shops had to be careful not to become a breeding ground for COVID-19.

Today, the same measures remain in place. Temperature checks are mandatory, with many shops setting up a kiosk for customers to self-test. Wearing a mask is essential to enter the store and most shops display a notice saying when they were last sanitized.

Although cities are slowly coming back to life, on a midweek afternoon when most of Beijing would normally be heaving with people leaving work and going about their daily life, streets remain quiet. Getting around the city is relatively easy for those who do need to venture outdoors. In fact, in Beijing, taxis and subways have continued to run throughout the pandemic, with similar strict measures in place as in supermarkets.

Taxis are regularly disinfected, and a plastic sheet separates driver and passenger, keeping both parties safe. Subways have employed extra staff to take temperatures since the epidemic began, and carriages are much quieter than usual, but feel safe.

People here in Beijing, both locals and foreigners, have accepted the changes to their normal routine and see them as necessary for protecting themselves and those around them. It's a long road to recovery, but after two months residents can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully, if other countries employ the same measures and people take heed of their responsibilities, the world can return to normal before too long.