China has lifted a lockdown in the central Chinese metropolis of Xi’an, officials said on Monday.

The status of the old imperial city, which had recorded some 2,000 new COVID-19 infections since December, was downgraded to “low risk.’’

Curfews have been lifted while public transport and taxis can resume regular operations in Xi’an, home to 13 million people.

Residents were allowed to travel normally again, but they had to prove their vaccination status.

Flights and train services to the provincial capital of Shaanxi have resumed.

The city administration said shops and shopping centres were also allowed to open normally again.

Restaurants can also serve guests again but must limit the number of diners and comply with distancing rules as a family, or private gatherings will also be limited to no more than 10 people.

The lockdown was lifted two weeks ahead of the Chinese new year, which routinely sees hundreds of thousands of people travelling to visit their hometowns each year.

According to their traditional lunar calendar, the biggest family festival in China does not begin until February.

(dpa/NAN)