People in China are flocking to stations and airports after the government eased its severe anti-coronavirus restrictions.

The government on Wednesday said the easing is aimed at further optimizing its response to the pandemic.

People visiting outdoor facilities, taking subways or crossing provincial borders are no longer required to show negative test results.

A high-speed railway station in Beijing was full of people with heavy luggage on business or homecoming trips.

A man leaving for a business trip said he welcomes the easing, as he travels often. He added that he's not worried about infections because he takes thorough prevention measures.

A migrant worker going home to the inland province of Anhui said he was double-masking because trains are crowded. He also said he's worried about the consequences of getting infected.

At PCR test sites in the capital where people used to wait in long lines, visitor numbers have fallen sharply.

But negative test results are still required for visiting hospitals and schools. In Beijing, people must show negative results of tests taken within 48 hours before dining indoors at restaurants or using gyms.

A restaurant worker says that at his workplace, employees have to take PCR tests once a day, and that it is inconvenient.

The government's latest step comes after mass protests in many cities in late November against its zero-COVID policy. But concerns over the pandemic linger as the daily tallies of new cases remain high.