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Zhengzhou

Feature

The problems surrounding China's sponge cities

The number of floods in China is rising. Although the country wants to transform more than two-thirds of its cities into so-called "sponge cities" by 2030 and even internationally, the recent floods in Zhengzhou expose the plan's weaknesses.

By Ning Wang

210720 -- ZHENGZHOU, July 20, 2021 -- A car is inundated by rainwater in Zhengzhou, capital of central China s Henan Province, July 20, 2021. More than 144,660 residents have been affected by torrential rains in central China s Henan Province since July 16, and 10,152 have been relocated to safe places, the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters said Tuesday. A total of 16 large and medium-sized reservoirs have seen water levels rise above the alert level after torrential rains battered most parts of the province on Monday and Tuesday. CHINA-HENAN-ZHENGZHOU-HEAVY RAINFALL CN ZhuxXiang PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN
Feature

China relies on sponge cities in its fight against floods

Not only since the current disastrous flooding in the province of Henan has China been aware that large parts of the country are prone to flooding. For a long time, the government's main weapon against these forces of nature was huge dams and dikes. But Beijing's new approach has seen more sealed surfaces being reopened all over Chinese cities. Nevertheless, the vulnerability to storms remains high.

By Jörn Petring