Rescuers have evacuated people trapped in rain-triggered floods in several parts of south China over the past few days.
The province of Guangdong has been experiencing heavy rain since the beginning of the week, with the provincial meteorological observatory warning about geological disasters, urban waterlogging and mountain torrents.
Firefighters used inflatable boats to transfer affected people from the flooded houses.
China's National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief on Wednesday initiated a Level-IV emergency response in the province due to heavy rainfall and severe flooding.
The commission has dispatched a team to flood-affected areas to support local disaster relief efforts, prioritizing the securing of basic livelihoods for affected residents.
In south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 166 people were evacuated in Nankang Town of Beihai City as the thigh-high flood water inundated many residential houses.
The rainstorm also caused landslides in several parts of Beihai, where multiple excavators and forklifts were dispatched to clear roads nearby. In Lincang City of southwest China's Yunnan Province, the flood water stranded many people in inundated houses and vehicles on Wednesday.
Local fire department dispatched rescue boats and drainage vehicles to the flooded areas and evacuated more than 300 people to safe places.
Rescuers evacuate people from rain-triggered floods in south 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
