For China’s nightlife scene, ‘zero COVID’ an unceasing ordeal

Many bars, karaoke joints, nightclubs and concert venues across China are still waiting to emerge from restrictions introduced months earlier in the year [Damir Sagolj/Reuters]

Beijing, China – Ai Jing, a concert booker in Beijing, often feels like business never has a chance to pick up from the latest COVID-19 curbs before another round of restrictions brings operations grinding to a halt.

Ai, who runs the concert booking agency Haze Sounds, struggles to find musicians these days since a ban on live events in the capital introduced in April forced many of them out of the business.