Several groups of tourists planning to leave Xinjiang set up tents at the Ejina Qi rest area on the G7 expressway. Some had traveled from areas designated “high-risk” of Covid infection in the region, and had decided to camp out by the highway for a week to avoid being put in quarantine. Photo: Chen Liang/Caixin

A woman returns to her tent after washing at the Yagan rest area on Monday. According China’s latest national disease control rules, people who have been in “high-risk” areas in the previous week are required to stay in centralized quarantine for seven days. Photo: Chen Liang/Caixin

Tourists prepare dinner in a parking shed at the rest area Monday. As of Tuesday, 45 areas in Xinjiang have been classified “high-risk.” Photo: Chen Liang/Caixin

A family eats in the rest area’s parking lot on Monday. Photo: Chen Liang/Caixin

A boy helps set up a tent at the roadside rest area Monday. Photo: Chen Liang/Caixin

A woman walks through the regulatory no-man’s land. Photo: Chen Liang/Caixin

Laundry hangs outside an RV to dry. Photo: Chen Liang/Caixin

A mother takes in the sunset with her child. Photo: Chen Liang/Caixin

Passengers rest under a shed roof at the rest area. Photo: Chen Liang/Caixin

Yagan rest area keeps its emergency lights on Monday evening. Power supply issues have led to power and water outages at the rest area. Photo: Chen Liang/Caixin

A man gets water from a heater on Monday night after a water and power outage. Photo: Chen Liang/Caixin

A passenger waits out the night in a folding chair Monday at the Linhe toll station, which is closed from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. each day. Photo: Chen Liang/Caixin