After devastating floods ravaged farmland across Hebei Province in north China lately, local authorities have mobilized manpower and other emergency resources to support local farmers in efforts to restore agricultural production.
In Jiuying Village, Zhangjiakou City, more than 1,300 hectares of farmland were affected by flooding. Many low-lying cornfields remain submerged and have suffered extensive damage.
"It's not just my crops, and a lot of nearby fields were inundated too. The losses are tremendous," said Wang Aijun, a major grain grower in Jiuying Village.
Agricultural technicians visiting the site confirmed that as floodwaters recede, soil nutrients are found to have been depleted. To address this situation, soil samples have been collected for urgent analysis.
"We've taken soil samples and sent them to the lab. We need to find out which fertilizers are deficient and how much is needed so that we can guide farmers accurately," said Song Jinku, director of the Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Technical Promotion Station of Huailai County.
"We can use drones to spray foliar fertilizers and also directly apply nitrogen and potassium fertilizers to the soil," said Zhang Haiyong, deputy director of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau of Huailai County.
Efforts to drain floodwater from the soaked fields are currently underway. To support recovery in the hardest-hit areas, including Zhangjiakou, Chengde and Baoding, over 5,000 tons of agricultural supplies have been urgently distributed by Hebei's agricultural authorities.
"We're providing follow-up support and services on site. Whether it's fertilizer or technical help, whatever farmers need, we'll ensure timely delivery," said Xu Jian, general manager of the Zhangjiakou branch of Hebei Agricultural Supplies Group.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as recovery efforts intensify to minimize crop losses.
North China's Hebei races to aid farmers after floods
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
