Summer Rain: Heavy rainstorms batter cities in eastern, southern China

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01:55

China is truly blowing hot and cold. As people up north suffer from the high temperatures, those living in eastern and southern parts of the country are truly facing a stormy summer season. CGTN's Chuck Tinte has more.

Residents in east China's Anhui province have been soaked since Wednesday. Precipitation levels in Bengbu city reached more than 203 millimetres, the highest in 30 years. And it was a disaster for some trying to get home.

"My car stalled when crossing this watery area. Luckily, two kind people helped me to push my car up."

"I went out this morning, only to find a 'river' in front of me."

Nearby in Chuzhou city, heavy rainfall forced more than 3,000 villagers to begin "a great migration" early Thursday morning. The local government says those from flooded regions have all been transferred to safe areas.

Shanghai is not spared either. The east Chinese city faced sudden howling winds on Thursday afternoon. And by five pm, the rain was fierce and relentless.

"It makes me feel like a typhoon was coming."

"It seems like the storm could blow pedestrians into the sky."

However, it looks like sorrow and joy are in equal measure. This time of the year is wet one for many regions, but also spells a lotus blooming season in southwest China's Yunnan province.

And in Fenghua city, in east China's Zhejiang province, the recent moderate to heavy rains have eased the drought this summer. Weather authorities say moderate to heavy rain will continue to batter the southern Yangtze river region in the next three days. And portions of the Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei region will still be in the grips of high temperatures.