Local authorities of southwest China's Guizhou Province have responded quickly after multiple areas were hit by floods triggered by continuous heavy rains over the past few days, deploying human resources to evacuate trapped residents and carry out dredging work.
In Hongqi Village, Guizhou's Zunyi City, a mountain torrent was recently caused by heavy rains, and the water logging in a villager's house was over one meter deep. After receiving an alarm, the local firefighting authorities immediately dispatched personnel to the scene, using kayaks to reach the trapped villagers' house. Carrying rescue ropes, life buoys and other rescue equipment, they successfully evacuated the trapped people to a safe area.
Also triggered by heavy rains, Shibing County in Guizhou was hit by a flood on Saturday. After the flood receded, the local authorities quickly deployed human resources to carry out post-disaster dredging and reconstruction work. They also advised the affected people to restore a normal life as much as possible.
Liyutang Community in Shibing County was one of the worst-hit areas. After the flood receded, the entire community was covered with mud and weeds, which hindered residents' normal travel. Local officials, volunteers and residents worked together to clear the silt and disinfect the affected area. After more than three hours of hard work, the silt removal work was completed.
In nursing homes, auto repair shops and other places that were severely affected, local firefighters and police also participated in the dredging work to help restore the life order as much as possible.
Local authorities make quick response after rain-triggered floods hit southwest China's Guizhou
Villagers in east China's Dezhou City shared their personal stories of rural transformation with President Xi Jinping during his inspection trip on Wednesday, expressing gratitude for the policies that have modernized farming and boosted household incomes.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited Dezhou in Shandong Province, where he received a warm welcome from residents. During the trip, he spoke with grain growers and villagers about agricultural production and rural development.
At Dongyujia Village, the president toured farmland, learning about the local wheat harvest, corn planting, and agricultural supplies. He emphasized the importance of improving farmland infrastructure and making agriculture more productive and resilient.
One of the villagers who spoke with President Xi said the conversation left a deep impression on him.
"I'm overjoyed. I told him I'm a farm machinery operator with two farm machines and four tractors at home. I also mentioned I usually work around the local area," said Song Zhijie.
Having operated machinery for decades, Song described how modern equipment has transformed his work.
"I've run farm machines for 20 years. Old tractors were weak and crude, leaving us muddy and worn out. Higher farm equipment subsidies let us buy modern machines with air-conditioned cabs and Beidou navigation, making work effortless," he said.
President Xi has called for solid measures to advance the modernization of agriculture and rural areas. In Dezhou, high-standard farmland is turning that vision into reality. For local farmers, the benefits are clear: better land, stronger harvests and higher incomes.
Producing more than seven million tonnes of grain each year, Dezhou is one of China's major grain producing regions.
During the visit, Xi also stressed the importance of building a beautiful and harmonious countryside tailored to local conditions.
In nearby Xiyujia Village, he visited villager Shi Yanyun and her family, where he learned about their daily lives, family income, children's education and the health of elderly family members.
Shi said she was impressed by how closely the president's questions were related to everyday life in the village.
"President Xi asked if we wanted city lives. I prefer the countryside. Land transfers let us take local nearby jobs. We have cheap, fresh greenhouse veggies, clean villages and easy transport," said the villager.
Xi's visit, Shi said, reflects his concern for rural revitalization policies and the well-being of ordinary families.
"I thought he'd focus on national issues, yet he cared deeply about our daily lives. He felt like a warm family elder," she said.
Local residents say the visit has further encouraged them to work hard, improve their lives and contribute to the continued development of their community.
Villagers share life improvements with President Xi during his inspection to Dezhou
