Local governments in areas hit by recent downpours in China are intensifying efforts to rescue residents trapped by floods, as torrential rains persist across some regions in the country.
On Saturday, heavy rainfall in Neijiang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, led to urban waterlogging and landslides in some areas. The local firefighters swiftly responded to rescue operations. Firefighters transferred residents trapped in low-lying areas to safe place promptly, especially the elderly with mobility difficulties.
Rubber boats were also used to rescue and transport stranded passengers from cars as floodwaters inundated the streets. Water suction pumps were deployed to drain water from waterlogged residential areas, ensuring the safety and convenience of affected residents.
In addition, a landslide caused by the heavy rainfall sent a large amount of soil and gravel downhill, blocking the exit routes of a residential building at the foot of the hill and trapping residents inside. local firefighters quickly entered the building to conduct emergency search and rescue operations, successfully evacuating five stranded individuals.
As rainfall persisted in Neijiang, a level-III emergency response for flood control was implemented on Sunday morning.
In addition to Neijiang, some parts of Xinyang City in central China's Henan Province were hit by recent torrential rains, with rainfall peaking at 58.1 mm per hour. On Saturday afternoon, Zhaopeng Village in Shangcheng County experienced rising floodwaters, trapping elderly people and children in their homes. Local rescuers swiftly responded, using rubber boats to transfer the trapped villagers or carry them on back to safety.
As of Sunday morning, heavy rainfall continued in Xinyang, prompting the local meteorological station to issue an orange alert for rainstorms.
China has a four-tier flood-control emergency response system, with Level I being the most urgent response, and a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow, and blue.
Rescue work underway as torrential rains batter parts of China
A festive atmosphere is building up as people across China have been making preparations to ring in the Spring Festival next week, with lights and decorations set everywhere, and with New Year goods markets all seeing booming sales.
The Spring Festival, which marks the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important annual holiday in China, when people across the country return to their hometowns for Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations and family reunion.
In Xi'an City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, a grand lantern show is in its final stage of preparation before opening to the public ahead of the eve of the 2025 Chinese Lunar New Year. To be lit up on Wednesday, the large light sets presented at the event will draw numerous visitors, with lanterns that replicate 38 cultural relics as the highlight.
Buying New Year flowers has been a custom for Chinese people. In Yancheng City of east China's Jiangsu Province, various flowers which have auspicious meanings are already in high demand.
This year, tulips bred locally have been put on sale, and quickly become a favorable choice for many customers.
"I have never seen this kind of flower before. I think it is really bright-colored. Therefore, I decided to buy some to enhance the festive atmosphere at home," said Zhang Jinjian, a local resident.
The Anchang ancient town in Shaoxing City of east China's Zhejiang Province has a time-honored custom of making aired sausages and spiced duck.
As the Spring Festival draws near, plenty of visitors and tourists choose to purchase these local delicacies as ingredients for their Chinese New Year feast.
"The number of tourists has been increasing, so the sales of our spiced meat have been quite good. Compared with the same period of last year, our sales is expected to increase by about 50,000 yuan (about 6,835 U.S. dollars). We will earn an additional 200,000 to 300,000 yuan (27,335 to 41,000 U.S. dollars) in sales during this whole winter," said Yang Jing, owner of a local spiced meat shop.
In southwest China's Yunnan Province, the "Tiaocai dance" is a time-honored tradition of the Yi ethnic minority group. The dance is presented in the form of serving dishes while dancing to the rhythm. It usually happens on a joyous or grand occasion.
Since the most significant annual festival is around the corner, Yi people have dressed up in traditional costumes, and got ready to welcome the arrival of the Chinese Lunar New Year with the special dance.
People across China make preparations to welcome Spring Festival