As Typhoon Gaemi moves further inland and northward, accompanied by heavy rains, China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has escalated emergency responses in flood-prone provinces including Liaoning in the northeast.
The typhoon, the third of the year, made its second landfall in Putian City of east China's Fujian Province Thursday evening.
In Shenyang city, the provincial capital, persistent heavy rains have caused waterlogging on several roads, disrupting traffic in parts of the city. Local authorities have swiftly initiated drainage efforts to restore normal traffic flow.
As of Friday afternoon, traffic conditions in Shenyang had significantly improved, though some sections still experienced waterlogging. To expedite drainage efforts, authorities have deployed 25 rubber dams at lower heights and activated 61 pump stations across the city.
In Panjin city, 102 pump stations are currently operational, and personnel have been deployed to patrol and monitor the five underpasses in the city.
"We have implemented comprehensive patrols and intensified monitoring at key locations, including low-lying road junctions, road sections and bridges," said Wang Bingren, deputy leader of the traffic police division of Panjin Public Security Bureau.
Other departments in the province have also activated flood-response efforts. Maritime authorities have issued meteorological warnings and intensified patrols at ports, construction sites near water bodies, and water parks to alert crews about wind prevention measures.
Liaoning escalates emergency response as typhoon Gaemi moves northward
As the Qingming Festival approaches this Friday, various traditional folk activities have been held across China, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the occasion.
With a 2,500-year history, Qingming Festival, or the Festival of Pure Brightness, observed in early April, uniquely combines ancestral worship with the celebration of spring. Falling on the 15th day after the spring equinox, this ritual-rich observance reflects China's enduring values of ancestral veneration and inspires deep introspection about what gives life meaning.
In Sijia Village, Huayin City, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, a unique swing festival is held to mark the occasion. Eighteen different types of traditional swings, such as the spinning wheel swing, the Bagua swing reminiscent of a rotating carousel, and the balance swing designed for two people, have attracted many visitors.
Historically, Sijia Village served as a military post guarding the strategic Tongguan pass, a former mountain pass and fortress located south of the confluence of the Wei and Yellow Rivers. The swing tradition in the village has its origins in military training exercises like climbing and river crossing. The local swing culture further developed as regional trade flourished, eventually evolving into the "swing festival" that continues today.
"It's very exciting and tests your skill, endurance, and most importantly, your arm strength. You need to maintain balance," said Qu Xiangyang, a visitor.
In Rudong County, Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, another traditional Qingming activity takes place - kite flying.
Flying kites as a way of making wishes is an age-old Qingming custom in this region. As a result, the Qingming Festival in Nantong is also known as the "Kite Festival."
The local Banyao whistling kite making skills is listed as one of the first national intangible cultural heritage items.
According to a folk culture expert, people traditionally write the names of diseases or misfortunes on paper, attach it to a kite, and release it into the sky. This practice is believed to drive away illness and disaster, while also serving as a way to make wishes.
In south China's Guangdong Province, a large tug-of-war competition is underway in Maoming City. Teams from different towns and streets are competing, attracting many locals to cheer on their teams.
Tug-of-war, which originated during the late Spring and Autumn period (770 BC - 476 BC), became part of Qingming customs during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty once organized large-scale tug-of-war competitions for the festival.
"Tug-of-war became very popular in the Tang Dynasty, even emerging as the national sport. It originated in the Jingchu region and later spread across the country. In ancient Lingnan (Southern China), tug-of-war games were a common tradition. Through these events, people seek to pray for peace, prosperity, and abundant harvests," said Yao Guojun, vice dean of the College of Arts and Law, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology.
Traditional folk activities held for Qingming Festival
