How much has China changed since COVID?

I left China mid 2020 after living there for nearly five years. I didn`t really want to leave but also couldn`t stay locked up during the pandemic. I`ll be heading back to teach around March because I just miss living there so much, but I`m wondering how much has changed since I left? Are things better or worse than before? Or is it largely the same? I`ve read about the double reduction policy and the government becoming more authoritarian, but how much does this really effect day to day life?

Thanks in advance.