Rescue and relief efforts were in full swing over the weekend in south and southwest China's provincial-level regions, following widespread flooding triggered by heavy downpours in the past few days.
After the water level receded below the warning level in the Sanjiang section of the Duliu River in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Sunday, the sludge cleanup work began and was proceeding in an orderly manner. Due to rainfall, the peak water level once reached 150.67 meters, 4.57 meters above the warning level at 17:40 on that day.
A total of 46 ferry crossings in Liuzhou City in Guangxi were closed due to the flood peak in the Duliu River. The Liuzhou Maritime Affairs Department dispatched several teams of law enforcement personnel to conduct inspections and give flood prevention warnings in key waters and key ferry crossings.
The Duliu River originates Guizhou Province, flows through its Sandu, Rongjiang and Congjiang counties, and finally enters Sanjiang County in Guangxi and merges into the Liujiang River.
In Kaili City of southwest China's Guizhou Province, multiple locations were waterlogged Saturday. Firefighters have been sent to pull out cars, evacuate the trapped people, drain water and clear silt.
Rongjiang County in Guizhou raised its flood emergency response to the highest level after it was hit by another flood on Saturday. Over 40,000 residents had been evacuated.
A local school that has been turned into a temporary shelter is big enough to hold about 4,000 people. It is well-stocked with supplies and essential medications, and medical personnel are on duty around the clock.
Since June 24, Rongjiang has been hit by severe flooding due to rainstorms.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Sichuan, the provincial meteorological observatory issued a yellow rainstorm warning on Sunday afternoon. It is expected that 16 cities in the province will have heavy to torrential rains accompanied by thunder and lightning and gusty winds, with the maximum hourly rainfall reaching 70 to 90 millimeters. Nearly 30,000 people have been evacuated in advance.
China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
Rescue, relief efforts underway in flood-hit south, southwest China
Rescue, relief efforts underway in flood-hit south, southwest China
Rescue, relief efforts underway in flood-hit south, southwest China
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
