Shanghai has been battling heavy rains since Thursday as Typhoon Kong-rey continues to affect the coastal areas in east China.
Typhoon Kong-rey, the 21st typhoon of this year, is reported to be moving northwards after landing in Taiwan and is expected to make landfall in Wenling City of east China’s Zhejiang Province.
As of 05:30 Friday, heavy rainfall hit Jiangwan Town of Hongkou District in Shanghai, reaching 117.5 millimeters.
The average precipitation recorded at the city's 947 monitoring stations reached 85.33 millimeters from Thursday night to Friday morning.
The typhoon also triggered rising water levels in the Zhangjiabang River in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, with the maximum height once reaching 3.3 meters, over 30 centimeters higher than the danger mark.
Meanwhile, local authorities opened 17 water gates on Thursday to discharge river water and spare more space for rain water in advance, with three more water gates opened on Friday.
More workers have been deployed to identify potential risks and ensure flood-relief facilities, supplies and power are in place. In addition, water level supervision in the city has been stepped up, especially at night.
Shanghai battered by heavy rains brought by Typhoon Kong-rey
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
