Students learn lessons during quarantine

On May 20, a quasi-Valentine's Day in China, Shanghai graduate student Zhang Yaqiang and a female peer he had recently met decided to have their first official date via WeChat's video channel.

Having been quarantined in his dormitory at East China University of Science and Technology for more than two months and used to wearing casual clothes, the 25-year-old put on a tie and white shirt and wore his favorite cologne and some makeup.

His new friend, Jin Jing, a senior undergraduate student at the university, also made considerable preparations for the date, which was their first opportunity to see each other clearly.

"We both value formality and we each wanted to give the other a good impression for our first date," Zhang said.

The online meeting lasted more than two hours, with Zhang standing on his dormitory balcony and Jin responding from her dormitory stairwell.

That evening, the pair held a video conference so they could watch a concert by Jay Chou, their favorite pop star and singer, together.

As COVID-19 outbreaks hit Shanghai and Beijing, college students under campus quarantine have found new and creative ways to spice up their daily lives.

Depending on the severity of the outbreak, the quarantine measures vary for universities in different areas. Those in Beijing generally sealed off their campuses early last month, and students were only allowed to leave for emergencies.

Shanghai students were under stricter quarantine measures, and some have been unable to leave their dormitories since March.

However, authorities in both cities recently allowed students to return to their hometowns if they wished, but said they were also welcome to stay at their universities if they preferred to do so.