biostudies-literatureBarak DEconomic and Social Research CouncilBeijing Social Science FundNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaCambridge Humanities Research Fund Scheme18457https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9628316biostudies-literatureUnknown12(1)On 11th Jan 2020, the first COVID-19 related death was confirmed in Wuhan, Hubei. The Chinese government responded to the outbreak with a lockdown that impacted most residents of Hubei province and lasted for almost three months. At the time, the lockdown was the strictest both within China and worldwide. Using an interactive web-based experiment conducted half a year after the lockdown with participants from 11 Chinese provinces, we investigate the behavioral effects of this 'shock' event experienced by the population of Hubei. We find that both one's place of residence and the strictness of lockdown measures in their province are robust predictors of individual social distancing behavior. Further, we observe that informational messages are effective at increasing compliance with social dScientific reportsExperience of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan leads to a lasting increase in social distancing.PMC962831621DTR05171872098Tang KBarak DDu WRong KGallo EfalseExperience of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan leads to a lasting increase in social distancing.On 11th Jan 2020, the first COVID-19 related death was confirmed in Wuhan, Hubei. The Chinese government responded to the outbreak with a lockdown that impacted most residents of Hubei province and lasted for almost three months. At the time, the lockdown was the strictest both within China and worldwide. Using an interactive web-based experiment conducted half a year after the lockdown with participants from 11 Chinese provinces, we investigate the behavioral effects of this 'shock' event experienced by the population of Hubei. We find that both one's place of residence and the strictness of lockdown measures in their province are robust predictors of individual social distancing behavior. Further, we observe that informational messages are effective at increasing compliance with social d2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov2025-04-04T10:57:50.263Z2025-02-19T00:31:22.253ZS-EPMC96283163632373310.1038/s41598-022-23019-w