Fans dancing at an electronic music festival, long lines at breakfast stands, gridlocked traffic – the scenes in novel coronavirus ground zero Wuhan these days would have been unthinkable in January.

The central Chinese city's recovery after a 76-day lockdown was lifted in April has brought life back onto its streets.

The queues snaking outside breakfast stands are a far cry from the terrified crowds that lined up at the city's hospitals in the first weeks after the city was quarantined in January to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The hazmat suits and safety goggles that were once the norm have given way to umbrellas and sun hats as tourists shield themselves from the scorching summer sun, posing for photos in front of the city's historic Yellow Crane Tower.

"In the first half of the year, we only opened some projects that had been decided before the outbreak," an employee at a local real estate company said. "Business volume has been greatly reduced."

A food stall owner said things are improving slowly, with sales growing from around 300 yuan (43.20 U.S. dollars) a day a month ago to more than 1,000 yuan.

In some Wuhan neighborhoods, barriers ubiquitous during the lockdown, continue to restrict traffic.

Many of the people first found to be infected worked at the Huanan Seafood Market, which was sealed off by authorities. It still stands empty behind blue barriers. Some vendors have reopened their stalls elsewhere.

At a pandemic-themed exhibition, families peek through glass at autographed hazmat suits used by medical workers at the height of Wuhan's outbreak, in an attempt to document an unprecedented period in the city's history.

From January to April, Wuhan City issued about 370 million yuan (53.28 million U.S. dollars) in subsidies. Additional living allowances have also been issued for people in difficulties suffering from the coronavirus.

Despite fears of a resurgence, Wuhan residents are keen to enjoy the city's recovery.

"Now I enjoy every day as if it were the last," said Hu Fenglian. "I don't need to worry too much."

(With input from AFP)