Yes. I am fully aware only an authoritarian government would be willing and able to forcibly lock down entire cities.

BUT

It stopped the spread in its tracks unlike the US and Europe who kept spreading for a year and a half. After a few months, most of China went back to normal. Wuhan itself is maskless with hospitals working under a normal load. The lockdowns worked.

Lockdowns and cat act tracing works, but only if everyone participates. Unfortunately it got political instead of following the science. Many preferred to let their fellow citizens die rather than wear a mask and stay at home when possible.

Authoritarianism is a horrible thing, but it has it uses during a viral pandemic.