Zhengzhou Hit by Torrential Rain: Men Stand on Car Roofs to Avoid Flooding, Shaolin Temple's Refusal to Shelter Tourists Sparks Controversy

On August 7, Zhengzhou in Henan, China, experienced heavy rainfall, with water levels in urban areas rising rapidly, instantly turning the city into a vast expanse of water. Some citizens captured footage of vehicles moving dangerously through the downpour, and even a man standing directly on top of a car to avoid the torrent. Additionally, delivery workers braved the rain to make food deliveries, while some netizens shared stories of their takeout meals being "washed away." Numerous photos circulated online show Zhengzhou residents wading through waist-deep water, making for worrying scenes.

At 13:20 on the 7th, the Zhengzhou Meteorological Observatory issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in Zhongyuan District. Due to slow-moving strong convective clouds, some parts of Zhengzhou’s Zhongyuan District had already seen over 100 mm of precipitation. In the next three hours, it's expected that most towns and streets under Zhongyuan's jurisdiction will continue to experience rainfall, with localized short-term heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds. Some areas could reach up to 150 mm. Authorities reminded residents to guard against secondary disasters such as urban waterlogging caused by the heavy rain.

The Shaolin Temple, located in Zhengzhou, also issued the highest-level red rainstorm alert. However, many tourists reported that there was not a single place inside the temple where visitors could shelter from the rain, and even the elderly were not allowed inside Shaolin Temple to take cover. In response, staff from Songshan Shaolin Temple stated, “Cultural relics areas inside the temple are not open to the public.”

Tourist Mr. Wang criticized angrily, "We spent hundreds of yuan on tickets, yet there's not even a place to shelter from the rain." Viral photos show nearly 50 people squeezed under an eave less than 1 meter deep. Other netizens criticized that they couldn't feel the compassion of the monastics.

The Zhengzhou Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters analyzed that this round of rainfall is characterized by long duration, wide coverage, high intensity, heavy overlap with previous rainfall areas, and a high risk of disaster. Together with the ongoing heavy rain, authorities have decided to upgrade their flood control emergency response from Level 4 to Level 3. (Source: HK01)