Wuhan nightclubs reopen for first time in Covid epicentre as partying remains distant dream for rest of the world

NIGHTCLUBS in China’s former coronavirus epicentre have been heaving with partying youngsters after venues reopened for the first time.

Images show nightlife in the once virus stricken Hubei province city is now back in full swing — while the West scraps Christmas celebration plans. 

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The Covid-19 pandemic began in Wuhan and it is widely speculated that the bug leaked from a virus research laboratory.

But remarkably it has not reported a new locally transmitted case of the disease since May 10 after lifting one of the strictest lockdowns in the world seven months ago. 

In scenes unimaginable in many cities around the world, young Wuhan residents were seen crowd-surfed, scoffed street food and packed the city's nightclubs as they made-up for lost time.

Zhang Qiong, 29, told Reuters: "After experiencing the first wave of epidemic in Wuhan and then the liberation, I feel like I'm living a second life."

Outside, maskless partygoers were seen spilling onto the streets, smoking and playing street games with toy machine guns and balloons.

'NO COVID CASES SINCE MAY'

But these shocking scenes are a far cry from the strict lockdown which was imposed on the central Hubei province city after the killer bug began spiralling out of control.

The city of 11 million was shut off from the rest of China in a surprise overnight lockdown beginning January 23.

Roadblocks were erected and planes, trains and buses were barred from entering the city. 

Almost 3,900 of China's 4,634 recorded Covid-19 deaths occurred in the industrial city.

But after lockdown was lifted images have emerged showing hundreds of people packed shoulder-to-shoulder at a water park music festival.

Huge crowds were also seen thronging the streets to celebrate Halloween. 

Officially 3,000 perished in Wuhan from the airborne virus. 

But those living there reportedly believe about 42,000 people died.

Others estimate more given the number of cremation urns being delivered to funeral homes.

So far the pandemic has killed more than 1.6million people globally, with the western world hunkering down for what is usually the party season. 

Scientists believe that Covid-19 first originated in bats before spreading to humans in Wuhan, possibly at one of the Chinese city's so-called wet markets.

Conspiracy theories about its origins persist however, with governments suggesting it may have come from the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab.