Theatrical performances and concerts are being staged as scheduled in Beijing as the city is recovering from a recent COVID spike.

In the Poly theater, one of the capital's major stages, we met Tana and her band HAYA. It's just five hours to go, a moment the musicians have waited for two years, a to return to the theater.

"I suppose I may burst into tears on the stage. I'm trying to calm down now," Tana, the lead singer, tried to control her emotion during the rehearsal. Named "Bonfire," the concert delivered Tana's wish for the fans- seeking solace and warmth in the melody.

Many times, COVID forced the group of music artists to make tough calls: Cancellation, one after another. Even Tana herself had just recovered from COVID. Yet this time, she found positive signs on her trip to Beijing.

"I saw travelers moving as air flows. No congestion for COVID checks. Although some people coughed in the cabin, I somehow sniffed fresh air." Tana made an analogy, " I believe hope will be separated from Omicron as gold is sifted out of the sand."

The theater no longer sealed the neighboring seats, although masks are still suggested. Tana shared her discoveries.

As part of the Beijing International Pop Music Festival, the concert sees a rising trend. The organizing committee managed to play two shows before the year 2023. According to Jiang Tao, chief organizer of the event, attendance has climbed to sixty to seventy percent, reflecting the increasing demand for entertainment.

With less than an hour to go, more fans arrived. "I'm so glad the first concert after recovery is HAYA's. I've followed them since high school. I'm expecting more leisure activities next year," said Zhang Tao, a fan of HAYA.

The city of Beijing boasts its cultural vibe, and it is in the theater that people can really feel that their life is back. Audiences here are rejoicing at the gradual revival as they hope to kindle the Bonfire and usher in the New Year.