Hohhot moves ever closer to business as usual

Hohhot, capital of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, is working to ensure the return to work and production of manufacturers in the city and the resumption rate has now reached 75.5 percent, according to news agency Xinhua.

It is expected that by the end of this month, industrial enterprises in the city will have returned to full output levels.

According to Hohhot officials, there are currently a total of 253 industrial enterprises above a designated scale -- the statistical term referring to industrial companies with annual revenue of 20 million yuan ($2.85 million) or more -- in the city.

Of these, 110 enterprises did not stop production during the Spring Festival holiday period.

As of Feb 24, 81 companies had restarted output and the resumption rate of the top 25 key industrial enterprises was 100 percent, accounting for nearly 80 percent of total industrial output value, officials said.

They said that except for the businesses that gather crowds of people -- including museums, libraries, cinemas, indoor stadiums and gyms -- other activities and services were starting to resume operations in an orderly manner from on Feb 23.

Officials said, however, that the catering industry was currently only allowed to sell items for take-away. Customers can order food online and the food will be delivered.

At hairdressers, customers must make an appointment in advance and only haircuts are allowed, with perms suspended.