Background:　The　COVID-19　pandemic　has　had　a　significant　impact　on　individuals＇　emotional　wellbeing　and　mental　health.　However,　little　research　has　examined　emotional　resilience　during　the　pandemic.　This　study　investigated　the　changes　in　emotional　distress　among　residents　in　Hubei,　the　epicenter　of　the　pandemic　in　China　during　the　early　stage　of　the　pandemic,　and　we　examined　the　sociodemographic　differences　in　their　emotional　recovery.　Methods:　We　undertook　a　two-wave　panel　survey　of　3816　residents　aged　≥18　in　Hubei,　China.　The　baseline　survey　was　conducted　during　early　February　2020,　the　peak　of　the　outbreak.　The　follow-up　survey　was　carried　out　when　the　pandemic　was　mainly　under　control.　The　data　enabled　us　to　investigate　the　within-person　changes　in　COVID-19-related　negative　emotions.　Mixed-effect　regression　models　with　a　random　effect　for　participants　were　used　to　accommodate　repeated　measures.　Results:　Respondents　reported　high　levels　of　emotional　distress　at　the　peak　of　the　pandemic　and　experienced　a　decline　in　emotional　distress　when　the　pandemic　was　under　control.　Moreover,　respondents　aged　35–49,　with　a　college　education　or　above,　were　employed,　and　having　better　self-rated　health　experienced　a　more　substantial　decrease　in　negative　emotions　during　the　COVID-19　pandemic.　Conclusion:　This　study　identified　vulnerable　populations　who　may　experience　prolonged　emotional　distress　during　the　COVID-19　pandemic　in　China.　The　results　suggest　that　respondents　who　aged　over　50,　with　no　college　education,　were　not　employed,　and　with　worse　self-rated　health　were　less　resilient　during　the　COVID-19　pandemic　in　China.　©　2022