Henan Braces for Typhoon After Deadly Floods, Tangshan Earthquake Anniversary, Nanjing’s Growing Covid Outbreak

Here is today’s ranking of the 10 most-read news stories in China, in economics, finance and current affairs, to help give you a sense of what’s trending in the Chinese language sphere.

Chinese social media users have been commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Tangshan Earthquake, which killed more than 242,000 people in 1976. They are also following Beijing’s urging the U.S. to lift sanctions and visa restrictions on Chinese citizens.

1. 362,000 people relocated in Shanghai due to Typhoon In-fa

According to the Shanghai Flood Control Command Office (external source, in Chinese), the city has relocated 362,000 people due to Typhoon In-fa. Most of these people are from the coastal Pudong New Area. Authorities predict about 300 millimeters (nearly 12 inches) of rain will fall on the city in the next three days.

2. China urges U.S. to lift sanctions, visa restrictions on Chinese citizens

China’s foreign minister urged the U.S. to lift sanctions and a technology blockade against China and spelled out three ways to keep China-U.S. relations from going off the rails at a meeting Monday with a senior U.S. diplomat in the northern city of Tianjin.

3. After fatal floods, Henan braces for the effects of Typhoon In-fa

China’s Central Henan Province (external source, in Chinese) is expected to experience heavy rain from Tuesday to Thursday. Henan announced Tuesday how it plans to protect residents in areas prone to flooding.

4. China commemorates 45th anniversary of Tangshan Earthquake

People throughout China are commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Tangshan Earthquake (external source, in Chinese). In the early hours of July 28, 1976, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the city in Hebei Province, killing more than 242,000 people.

5. Diagnosed Covid-19 cases within last seven days accelerate in Nanjing

Nanjing, the capital of East China’s Jiangsu province (external source, in Chinese), reported a cumulative 106 confirmed Covid-19 cases from July 20 to Monday, with the total climbing to 153 as of Tuesday.

6. Beijing subway will shut down elevators if rainwater backs up

The company that runs Beijing’s subway system (external source, in Chinese) said Wednesday that it will immediately shut down escalators and elevators if rainwater backs up at station entrances and exits, and adjust the direction of gates to prevent passengers from approaching flooded areas.

7. Hangzhou health code switches to display residents' Covid vaccination status

China’s eastern city Hangzhou changed its health code (external source, in Chinese) on Wednesday to show whether its residents are vaccinated. The updated health code for vaccinated residents has the words “Covid-19 vaccination completed” displayed below the QR code.

8. Viral load of Delta strain is 1,260 times that of 2020’s epidemic strain

People infected with the delta strain of the coronavirus carried a viral load that was 1,260 times higher than that of the 19A/19B strain that was spreading in 2020, according to a study published on the preprint server medRxiv.

9. China supplies 75% of the world’s hyaluronic acid products

The top 5 global suppliers of hyaluronic acid (external source, in Chinese), used in beauty products that promise to remove wrinkles and moisturize the skin, are all located in East China’s Shandong province. China delivers 75% of the world’s hyaluronic acid products.

10. First Olympian to complete an event diagnosed with Covid-19

Dutch Olympic rower Finn Florijn (external source, in Chinese) has been diagnosed with Covid-19, making him the first athlete at the Tokyo Olympics to catch the virus after competing in an event, team officials said. Florijn has withdrawn from the remainder of the Games.

Translated by intern reporter Chen Bingyi.

Caixin has not independently verified the veracity or accuracy of all of the headlines or stories.

The daily ranking of most-read news stories among Chinese people, about China and global affairs, is jointly provided to you by Caixin Insight and HANA Data, an artificial intelligence technology team.

The key indicators calculated on the list are based on mass data sourced from China’s mainstream social media platforms and online news websites. Click here for a detailed introduction of our methodology.