"She was too busy to respond on WeChat (a popular messaging app in China) during her time in Wuhan. So I sent her a virtual red packet via WeChat every day," said Gao. "As long as she clicked 'accept', I knew she was back in her dorm and managed to have some rest."

"We are more than proud to offer a historic venue and dedicated services that bring memorable sparkles to the medical heroes' most significant moments in life," said Richard Saul, general manager of the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund. "We want to express our sincere gratitude to these true heroes that protect and save people's lives with selfless efforts."

Saul said a number of special offerings will be given to medical workers, including discounts on meals and drinks, as well as complimentary stays and perks at the hotel for their first anniversary, should the couple book a wedding ceremony at the hotel.

Tens of thousands of medical teams began returning to their homes in batches since middle March, as the epidemic situation markedly improved in Wuhan, the once hardest-hit city.