Residents applaud Wuhan lifting lockdown

Residents in Wuhan said they are excited about the city finally lifted its outbound travel restrictions on Wednesday, ending a 76-day lockdown. The easing of travel restrictions came after new infections were drastically reduced across China, marking a milestone in the country's fight against the epidemic while giving confidence to a world grappling to contain the spread of the virus.

After barricades were removed at toll gates around Wuhan at Tuesday midnight, vehicles in long lines honked horns and rushed out, in an outpouring of celebratory sentiment at the long-awaited moment. The Wuhan Tianhe International Airport also resumed its routine of domestic passenger flights.

Authorities said the airport is expected to see roughly 200 flights with almost 12,000 passengers within the day. A midnight light show also brightened up Wuhan's sky as a tribute to heroes in the battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak.