Hebei village completes miracle evacuation ahead of deadly flood, begins reconstruction

A dramatic 30-minute evacuation saved all 246 residents of Zhoujiazhuang Village in north China's Hebei Province from devastating floods on July 27, and reconstruction is now underway after what local officials said was the area's worst flooding in two centuries.

While devastating rainfall across Hebei Province claimed 16 lives, this village in Xinglong County miraculously suffered no casualties.

The model village, known for its integrated tourism, agriculture and industry, suffered catastrophic damage with factories, farmland, orchards and infrastructure nearly wiped out. The successful evacuation is credited to the swift actions of village Party Committee Secretary Li Delin and his team.

"We finished the evacuation around 22:00 on the 27th, and the flood surged fiercely at 22:30. We only had a 30-minute lead. We went door-to-door, knocking on each home, and carried those who couldn't move," said Li.

Li said that a landslide also hit the village after 15 hours of continuous rainfall which overwhelmed the mountainous terrain.

He described the harrowing final rescue mission through chest-deep waters to save the last 19 villagers.

"When I got here, the floodwater was up to my chest. I immediately led the last 19 people to take shelter on the roof. Everyone was safe, but they were all crying from fear. I didn't let them see me cry, otherwise they would have panicked even more," said Li.

In the aftermath, Li became the village's anchor. Despite power outages cutting communications to just the village committee office, and food shortage leaving him surviving on a single bun over the past two days, he focused on others' needs first and his presence put flood-affected villagers at ease.

"We will talk about house repairs and subsidies later. For now, just make sure you eat your food. If you feel unwell, go to the medical station for medicine. There are people on duty 24/7, and it's free of charge," Li told one of the flood-affected villagers.

"It's okay, don't worry. We'll get through this. One bun is enough for me," said Li.

Alongside debris-clearing volunteers restoring supply chains, local merchants including Li Jie contributed to reconstruction despite personal losses.

"Our village has been hit by such a terrible disaster, and I myself lost several hundred thousand yuan. But I will do my best to rebuild our home," said Li Jie.

Hebei village completes miracle evacuation ahead of deadly flood, begins reconstruction

The Honghe butterfly valley in southwest China's Yunnan Province is expected to see a 10-year high butterfly boom this year.

As one of the world's richest regions for butterfly species, the butterfly valley in Jinping County sees a massive butterfly emergence every year in late spring and early summer.

From May to June, billions of butterflies emerge and fill the skies above the valley.

Experts estimate this year's butterfly number could be the highest in nearly a decade.

Scientists say such a spectacle is only possible in a healthy ecosystem.

For nearly three decades, local resident Yang Zhenwen has devoted himself to monitoring and protecting the butterflies.

Every day during the emergence season, he serves a special meal to help the tiny creatures replenish their energy: a nutrient solution he developed together with researchers.

"The solution is made mainly from local ingredients, including pineapples, fermented glutinous rice juice and brown sugar. After being boiled together, a small amount of salt is added," said Yang.

Yang regularly patrols the mountains, monitors butterfly habitats, records species data and tracks the growth of host plants.

Recently, over 40 content creators were invited to the county to promote biodiversity conservation through artistic installations and online campaigns. With support from the local government, conservation is also driving rural development.

"We have invited some social organizations. They bring some artists to come here to help our people design butterfly craft products, and also, some professional guides to train our people to become a good tourist guide. I would like to say it's a vivid proof of how human beings and nature can live in harmony," said Liu Xuan, deputy head of Jinping County.

The butterfly valley is drawing in a growing number of tourists.

Butterfly boom forecast to hit 10-year high at butterfly valley in Yunnan