From May 17 to 18, heavy to torrential rain fell upstream of Baishuihe Village, with maximum rainfall reaching 292.6 millimeters. This caused the river to surge, flooding many homes along the riverbank, partially collapsing some houses, and cutting off roads and communications. The frontline rescue command decided to relocate all 136 villagers who had no relatives to stay with to a centralized shelter in Shadaogou Town. The Fuyuan Business Hotel was one of the main shelters for the affected villagers. Around 6:00 PM on May 20, a visit was made here.

Entering the lobby, several villagers were seated on sofas. Some had already put on new clothes and shoes brought by relatives working in the town. It was dinner time, and the hotel staff had delivered boxed meals ordered for the sheltered villagers to the lobby. Each meal consisted of four dishes and a soup: scrambled eggs with tomatoes, mixed vegetable soup, stir-fried pork with green peppers, and sliced potatoes—two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes.

“The villagers arrived quite late yesterday, so we prepared eight-treasure porridge and also provided a traditional Chinese medicine soup to prevent colds for the elderly. Today’s breakfast was steamed buns and stuffed buns, and lunch and dinner are varied,” a staff member explained.

Some villagers came downstairs to pick up their meals, while others who couldn’t make it had meals delivered to their rooms by staff.

Affected villagers from Baishuihe Village collect their dinner at the shelter.

Staff deliver dinner to the room of 92-year-old villager Yan Baolin.

“The food tastes good,” several elderly villagers interviewed said in unison.

The hotel has over 30 rooms and currently houses 46 villagers, including six elderly individuals with reduced mobility. The hotel owner, Liu Yongfu, is providing free accommodation for the sheltered villagers.

78-year-old villager Gao Youye and his 76-year-old wife Peng Meixiang are staying in room 6128.

78-year-old affected villager Gao Youye from Baishui Village eats at the shelter.

“My daughter and granddaughter are coming later. Could we have two more boxed meals?” Gao Youye asked the staff, looking a bit embarrassed.

“No problem,” the staff replied readily. While waiting for his family, conversation was struck up with the elderly man.

He lives along the river in Baishuihe Village and said he had never seen the river flood so severely in his lifetime. The floodwaters swept away everything from the kitchen on the first floor of his home, leaving no food behind.

“What a pity!” he lamented. “I also had a fish pond, three mu of medicinal herbs, and several mu of corn.”

The couple’s daughter works in Enshi City, and their grandson works at a company in Zhejiang. In recent years, they had traveled with their daughter to places like Beijing and Yunnan, and even visited Taiwan for eight days last year.

But the elderly man couldn’t stay idle. He farmed with his wife and also built a fish pond.

“The fish had grown to over a foot long. I couldn’t bear to eat or sell them, and they all got washed away by the flood,” he said regretfully.

As they spoke, his daughter arrived with her granddaughter and other relatives, carrying new clothes they had just bought for the elderly couple. The old man opened his meal box, and the family gathered together, eating and chatting, looking forward to starting a new life.

Baishuihe Village

Baishuihe Village is a historic settlement located in the mountainous region of southwestern China, known for its traditional architecture and rich cultural heritage. The village has a history dating back several centuries, with its layout and buildings reflecting the unique ethnic minority customs of the area. Today, it serves as a living museum, offering visitors insight into ancient Chinese rural life and the enduring traditions of its inhabitants.

Shadaogou Town

Shadaogou Town, located in the Yanqing District of Beijing, China, is a historic settlement with roots tracing back

Baishuihe Village

Baishuihe Village, located in Yunnan Province, China, is a historic settlement known for its well-preserved traditional Naxi architecture and rich cultural heritage. The village has a history dating back several centuries, serving as an important stop along the ancient Tea Horse Road, which facilitated trade between Yunnan and Tibet. Today, it remains a vibrant community where visitors can explore ancient stone-paved streets, traditional houses, and local customs that reflect the enduring legacy of the Naxi people.

Shadaogou Town

Shadaogou Town is a historic mining settlement in Liaoning Province, China, known for its coal mining industry that developed during the early 20th century under Japanese occupation. The town features well-preserved colonial-era buildings and mining infrastructure that reflect its industrial heritage. Today, it serves as a cultural site that offers insight into the region’s labor history and the impact of foreign exploitation on local communities.

Fuyuan Business Hotel

The Fuyuan Business Hotel is a modern accommodation facility located in China, primarily serving business travelers. Its history is not widely documented, as it is likely a contemporary establishment built to support the growing commercial activity in its region. The hotel offers standard amenities for professionals, such as meeting rooms and convenient access to local business districts.

Enshi City

Enshi City, located in Hubei Province, China, is a cultural and natural hub known for its stunning karst landscapes and rich Tujia and Miao ethnic heritage. Historically, it developed as a remote frontier settlement, later gaining prominence for its role in the region’s tea trade and as a gateway to the Grand Canyon of Enshi. Today, it attracts visitors for its scenic beauty and cultural festivals, blending ancient traditions with modern tourism.

Beijing

Beijing, the capital of China, is a city with a history spanning over 3,000 years, serving as the political and cultural heart of the nation for centuries. It is home to iconic landmarks such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the Temple of Heaven, which reflect its imperial past under the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today, Beijing blends ancient traditions with modern development, hosting major events like the 2008 Summer Olympics and serving as a global hub for art, education, and diplomacy.

Yunnan

Yunnan, located in southwestern China, is a culturally and ecologically diverse region known for its stunning landscapes, including the Stone Forest and the terraced rice fields of Yuanyang. Historically, it was a key hub on the ancient Tea Horse Road trade route and was once the independent Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms before being incorporated into the Chinese empire during the Yuan dynasty. Today, it is home to many ethnic minority groups, such as the Bai, Yi, and Dai, contributing to its rich cultural heritage.

Taiwan

Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, is an island nation in East Asia with a rich and complex history. Originally inhabited by indigenous peoples, it saw significant migration from mainland China over centuries, and was later colonized by the Dutch and Spanish before becoming a part of the Qing Dynasty. Following the Chinese Civil War, the Nationalist government retreated to Taiwan in 1949, establishing a separate political entity that has since developed into a vibrant democracy with a unique cultural identity.

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