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China was hit by its most severe drought and longest sustained period of extremely high temperatures in six decades in the summer of 2022. About half of the country’s landmass was hit, while a power crunch shut factories and sparked supply chain worries.
‘Definitely aliens’: bizarre patterns in drying lake enthral China’s internet
- Bizarre patterns exposed on a lake floor in China by a recent drought have triggered speculation of aliens and ancient civilisations online
- Officials have dismissed the theories and said the area has always been underwater until recently and that the patterns are most likely old fish traps
Winter is coming and China is facing a ‘grim’ power supply outlook
An extreme summer drought has left reservoirs in China struggling to retain water needed for the dry season, with Sichuan province anticipating a worst-case scenario of a 10 to 30 per cent power shortfall over the winter months.
An extreme summer drought has left reservoirs in China struggling to retain water needed for the dry season, with Sichuan province anticipating a worst-case scenario of a 10 to 30 per cent power shortfall over the winter months.
Can China’s parched Poyang Lake still be a winter home for migratory birds?
Shrinking of the country’s largest freshwater lake could make wintering difficult for hundreds of thousands of migratory waterbirds.
Shrinking of the country’s largest freshwater lake could make wintering difficult for hundreds of thousands of migratory waterbirds.
Russian oil exports to China jump in August, but Saudis take top spot
China’s demand for imported fuel has been subdued this year as the economy slows, but imports of Russian oil have remained strong and purchases from Saudi Arabia recovered last month.
China’s demand for imported fuel has been subdued this year as the economy slows, but imports of Russian oil have remained strong and purchases from Saudi Arabia recovered last month.
China’s major rice-growing regions struggle under record-breaking drought
The capital cities of the southern provinces of Jiangxi and Hunan, two major rice-growing regions, have not seen a single drop of rain this month, raising concerns over China’s food security, drinking water and animal conservation.
The capital cities of the southern provinces of Jiangxi and Hunan, two major rice-growing regions, have not seen a single drop of rain this month, raising concerns over China’s food security, drinking water and animal conservation.
China urged to embrace ‘nutrition-oriented’ farming or risk food security
Chinese authorities have in recent years ramped up rhetoric around safeguarding food supply. They now say more needs to be done to prevent the loss of nutrient-rich foods through processing.
Chinese authorities have in recent years ramped up rhetoric around safeguarding food supply. They now say more needs to be done to prevent the loss of nutrient-rich foods through processing.
Toddler-leash while cooking, art to stop period-shaming, dead ducks for sale
This week in ‘love and courage in China’, we highlight stories that celebrate the human spirit featuring a grandmother’s toddler leash while she cooks, a teenager trying to stop period-shaming and people helping an old farmer sell dead ducks.
This week in ‘love and courage in China’, we highlight stories that celebrate the human spirit featuring a grandmother’s toddler leash while she cooks, a teenager trying to stop period-shaming and people helping an old farmer sell dead ducks.
‘I’ve never seen a drought like this’: China’s farmers fight to save harvest
A severe drought has parched Jiangxi province and other major rice-growing areas in the Yangtze River Basin. Farmers in the region are growing increasingly fearful about the coming autumn harvest.
A severe drought has parched Jiangxi province and other major rice-growing areas in the Yangtze River Basin. Farmers in the region are growing increasingly fearful about the coming autumn harvest.
Poverty threat unlikely to derail China’s push for common prosperity
Party congress expected to celebrate last year’s declared success in lifting lowest incomes and turn focus to 2049 goal.
Party congress expected to celebrate last year’s declared success in lifting lowest incomes and turn focus to 2049 goal.
UN agency warns global temperature likely to hit record high in next five years
The likelihood of a record high temperature is 93 per cent, said the United Nations agency, which also called on global leaders to step up on climate commitments.
The likelihood of a record high temperature is 93 per cent, said the United Nations agency, which also called on global leaders to step up on climate commitments.
China’s heatwave eases but drought far from over, weather watchers warn
Water levels continue to drop in the country’s biggest freshwater lake.
Water levels continue to drop in the country’s biggest freshwater lake.
China’s power crisis adds to headaches ahead of the 20th Party Congress
In this issue of Global Impact, we look back at the latest power crisis in China and ask what is next as it seeks energy security.
In this issue of Global Impact, we look back at the latest power crisis in China and ask what is next as it seeks energy security.
Xi calls for China to ‘push for a green, low carbon lifestyle’
President Xi Jinping underscored the importance of a ‘comprehensive saving strategy’ and urged for major resource risks to be addressed as a priority after China was hit by a drought-induced power crisis last month.
President Xi Jinping underscored the importance of a ‘comprehensive saving strategy’ and urged for major resource risks to be addressed as a priority after China was hit by a drought-induced power crisis last month.
Death toll from Sichuan earthquake rises to 66, with 15 still missing
Aftershocks, days of rain and possible landslides threaten the rescue operation, which includes a mission to reach hundreds trapped in a national park.
Aftershocks, days of rain and possible landslides threaten the rescue operation, which includes a mission to reach hundreds trapped in a national park.
Death toll rises to more than 30 in China’s quake-hit Sichuan province
Rescue work continues into the night as quake marks latest challenge for drought-hit province tackling Covid-19 outbreak.
Rescue work continues into the night as quake marks latest challenge for drought-hit province tackling Covid-19 outbreak.
‘The land is barren’: extreme weather threatens global rice supply
Drought in China, low rainfall in India and massive monsoon floods in Pakistan are threatening global rice supplies, risking shortages for more than 2 billion people in Asia that depend on it as a staple food.
Drought in China, low rainfall in India and massive monsoon floods in Pakistan are threatening global rice supplies, risking shortages for more than 2 billion people in Asia that depend on it as a staple food.
China’s record-breaking 2022 heatwave and drought - a visual explainer
China has been hit by its most severe heatwave in six decades, exacerbating a drought that has had an impact on food and factory production, power supplies and transport across a vast area of the country.
China has been hit by its most severe heatwave in six decades, exacerbating a drought that has had an impact on food and factory production, power supplies and transport across a vast area of the country.
Chinese cloud-seeding rocket narrowly misses pedestrians
Pedestrians narrowly escaped being hit by a rocket meant to create artificial rain in China when the device crashed into a pavement in Sichuan on August 29, 2022. Authorities in the southwestern Chinese province had been using cloud-seeding rockets to try and make rain amid a crippling drought that has gripped a large area of the country.
Pedestrians narrowly escaped being hit by a rocket meant to create artificial rain in China when the device crashed into a pavement in Sichuan on August 29, 2022. Authorities in the southwestern Chinese province had been using cloud-seeding rockets to try and make rain amid a crippling drought that has gripped a large area of the country.
Doctors warn against drinking trendy ‘fake Americano’ made with TCM for heatstroke
An over-the-counter traditional Chinese medicine that can cause vomiting and heart palpitations is being mixed with water to make a brew that supposedly looks and tastes like an iced Americano.
An over-the-counter traditional Chinese medicine that can cause vomiting and heart palpitations is being mixed with water to make a brew that supposedly looks and tastes like an iced Americano.
China’s scorched Chongqing, Sichuan now on flood alert
Emergency flood-prevention response triggered as torrential downpours that began on Sunday are forecast to extend until Tuesday.
Emergency flood-prevention response triggered as torrential downpours that began on Sunday are forecast to extend until Tuesday.
How China’s power crisis is adding to the bearish mood in equity markets
Market sentiment has already been affected by Beijing’s unyielding zero-Covid policy and the ongoing housing market woes, any further shocks could drain demand for risk appetite, analysts say.
Market sentiment has already been affected by Beijing’s unyielding zero-Covid policy and the ongoing housing market woes, any further shocks could drain demand for risk appetite, analysts say.
China drought highlights risks of relying on hydropower
Researchers warn that the country should diversify its power supplies in case such extreme weather events become more common in future.
Researchers warn that the country should diversify its power supplies in case such extreme weather events become more common in future.
Chinese farmers suffer from heatwave
China’s southwestern Sichuan province has been sweltering under a record heatwave. The region has seen over 40 degree Celsius (104°F) temperatures since early August 2022, which has lasted for nearly a month. In one of the worst-hit areas in Dazhou, in eastern Sichuan, rivers have dried up as a result of the heatwave, leaving scorched crops and putting the autumn harvest at risk. Strict Covid-19 controls in place for nearly three years have hurt businesses across China, and farmers are among the most affected by the country's declining economy. Now a damaged harvest has put more uncertainty in their lives.
China’s southwestern Sichuan province has been sweltering under a record heatwave. The region has seen over 40 degree Celsius (104°F) temperatures since early August 2022, which has lasted for nearly a month. In one of the worst-hit areas in Dazhou, in eastern Sichuan, rivers have dried up as a result of the heatwave, leaving scorched crops and putting the autumn harvest at risk. Strict Covid-19 controls in place for nearly three years have hurt businesses across China, and farmers are among the most affected by the country's declining economy. Now a damaged harvest has put more uncertainty in their lives.
Explainer | Why is China facing a power crisis, and what does it mean for the economy?
China is facing a power shortage due to heatwaves and drought, affecting the Yangtze River basin in particular, home to several manufacturing hubs and a large population.
China is facing a power shortage due to heatwaves and drought, affecting the Yangtze River basin in particular, home to several manufacturing hubs and a large population.
Villager fishes in drying pools at China’s biggest freshwater lake
Ye Fa travels to Poyang Lake every morning and afternoon to look for fish left in the mud ponds and land cracks. “The water used to flood over the embankment. But now there is no more [water],” Ye said. China’s largest freshwater lake, Poyang takes in floodwater from the Yangtze River during normally wet summers. But the lake in the eastern province of Jiangxi has suffered because of rare drought amid a nationwide heatwave that has lasted for more than 70 days. The early dry season has also reduced hydropower production, contributing to China’s energy crisis. Power rationing has forced factories to suspend production in provinces that Premier Li Keqiang hoped would lift the country out of a recent economic downturn.
Ye Fa travels to Poyang Lake every morning and afternoon to look for fish left in the mud ponds and land cracks. “The water used to flood over the embankment. But now there is no more [water],” Ye said. China’s largest freshwater lake, Poyang takes in floodwater from the Yangtze River during normally wet summers. But the lake in the eastern province of Jiangxi has suffered because of rare drought amid a nationwide heatwave that has lasted for more than 70 days. The early dry season has also reduced hydropower production, contributing to China’s energy crisis. Power rationing has forced factories to suspend production in provinces that Premier Li Keqiang hoped would lift the country out of a recent economic downturn.
China’s record-breaking drought takes heavy toll on farmers
Fields in rural areas of Sichuan are drying up after a month with no rainfall and little to no irrigation equipment available to farmers.
Fields in rural areas of Sichuan are drying up after a month with no rainfall and little to no irrigation equipment available to farmers.
Chinese men trapped by floodwaters saved after 5-hour rescue
Rescuers spent nearly five hours trying a series of plans to reach two men trapped on a small island in a flood-swollen river in China’s Gansu province on August 23, 2022. Emergency workers finally managed to reach the pair using a zip line to avoid dangerous V-shaped currents and whirlpools that formed after heavy rainfall triggered flash floods in the northwestern province.
Rescuers spent nearly five hours trying a series of plans to reach two men trapped on a small island in a flood-swollen river in China’s Gansu province on August 23, 2022. Emergency workers finally managed to reach the pair using a zip line to avoid dangerous V-shaped currents and whirlpools that formed after heavy rainfall triggered flash floods in the northwestern province.
Rain may not cool China’s economic woes as impact could be ‘felt for months’
Rain and temperatures have started to fall in Sichuan province, but concerns remain that the economic and inflation fallout from China’s power crisis could still be ‘felt for months’.
Rain and temperatures have started to fall in Sichuan province, but concerns remain that the economic and inflation fallout from China’s power crisis could still be ‘felt for months’.