Persistent heavy rainfall hit some parts of northeast China's Liaoning Province and north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from Monday to Wednesday, prompting immediate rescue and drainage operations.
Dandong City in Liaoning received an average 71.9 millimeters of rainfall from Tuesday to Wednesday, peaking at 196.5 millimeters. The municipal flood control headquarters activated a Level III emergency response at 12:00 on Tuesday.
"We pre-discharged reservoirs and hydropower stations, increased river patrols, and prioritized inspections of geological hazard sites and mine tailings to address risks immediately. We also evacuated 4,547 people from high-risk zones to ensure public safety," said Du Xingwei, deputy director of the flood control headquarters office in Dandong.
By 12:00 on Wednesday, no casualties had been reported in Dandong.
The meteorological department forecasts further moderate to heavy rainfall in Dandong from Wednesday to Friday, with storms expected in some areas. maintaining critical flood control conditions. The flood prevention situation, therefore, remains grim in the city.
Meanwhile, Dongsheng District of Ordos City in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region recorded 201.1 millimeters of rainfall from Monday to Tuesday, causing severe waterlogging in some areas. After drainage operations, the floodwaters have now been largely cleared.
With mud, debris and fallen trees obstructing roads, local sanitation department responded immediately, deploying loaders for cleanup, and all roads now are reopened to traffic.
Heavy rain hits Inner Mongolia, Liaoning in 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
