Shanghai streets become "Yellow River" as extreme rain submerges cars and forces residents to paddle

Shanghai, China's most prosperous metropolis, transformed into "Venice of the East" after a "once-in-a-century" downpour inundated its streets on July 19. The torrential rain, characterized by some Chinese media as the most severe of the year, overwhelmed the city's drainage systems, leaving numerous vehicles submerged in murky, garbage-filled water.

Social media platforms buzzed with images and videos of the chaos. In the Yangpu District, where the World Artificial Intelligence Conference was underway, floodwaters rose above car tires, forcing drivers and motorcyclists to navigate treacherous conditions. Some residents resorted to using paddleboards to get around, highlighting the severity of the flooding. Reports indicated that large buildings also experienced leaks and flooding.

“

The streets turned into the Yellow River, with cars and motorcycles submerged in garbage-filled water, and some people had to paddle small boards to get around.

The city's flood control headquarters confirmed heavy rainfall across multiple districts, with the Wujiaochang area of Yangpu District recording an astonishing 104.5 millimeters of rain in one hour and 212.8 millimeters over four hours. This extreme precipitation set a new record for short-term rainfall in Shanghai this year. Neighboring Hongkou, Pudong, and Baoshan districts also saw heavy downpours.

While local authorities worked to alleviate the flooding, which reportedly continued until late at night, the situation drew widespread mockery online. Many netizens sarcastically commented on the irony of China's most vibrant city succumbing to such widespread inundation, with some comparing it to Venice.

“

Yangpu became Venice, with small boats being used.