"I rarely visited those sites before the Internet was down, I don't think I'll do so now," a 25-year-old Urumqi resident surnamed Chen told China Daily. "I cannot wait for the day the Internet service is fully restored. The good news is that at least we know there is hope now."

Memet Turson, a 35-year-old businessman based in Kashgar, said: "I am disappointed that I cannot use email, which I desperately need for my business.

"But I am glad to hear that the government is gradually lifting the ban; it is a good start."