Life hasn’t returned to normal for China’s internet cafes
Business are urged to reopen across the country as coronavirus infections drop, but gamers wonder when they can visit their favorite haunts again
Shoppers have returned to the streets and restaurants are welcoming back old patrons. But as China leaves behind the worst effects of the pandemic, computer screens remain dark in some of the country’s cybercafes.
With infections falling to a new low, authorities are eager to reignite an economy that’s been stalled since late January, pushing businesses and factories to get back to work. But while cybercafes and other indoor entertainment venues were initially given the go-ahead to reopen, they were promptly ordered by various cities to close again within days.
The abrupt reversal confused loyal customers who have been waiting for months to revisit their favorite haunts.
While cybercafes are largely considered a primitive vestige of the early internet age, they have survived in parts of Asia as watering holes for avid gamers. For less than a dollar an hour, patrons can relax on plush chairs while waging battles on League of Legends and drifting race cars on QQ Speed.