Guangxi, a major agricultural region in south-west China, has experienced both severe drought and extreme rain this week.
The current “meteorological drought area” covers 97.5% of Guangxi, according to China Central Television. Average rainfall in the region was less than 40mm between November 2024 and February 2025, a record low for the time of year. Some areas have been dry for months, reports Guangxi Daily.
The drought has severely impacted agriculture. Guangxi produces over 60% of China’s sugarcane but much of it has failed to grow after eight months of drought, according to Southern Weekly. Rising irrigation costs have forced some farmers to abandon planting this year.
The crisis is also threatening household supply. In Guigang city, the water levels of several reservoirs are too low to draw from. Four small reservoirs in Shika town have completely dried up, Beijing News stated. The local government dispatched fire trucks to deliver water to affected residents.
On 20 April, long-awaited rainfall arrived in the form of thunderstorms that swept across much of Guangxi. The Xihe River, a tributary of the Luoqing River, saw water levels rise “37cm above the warning line”, indicating a potential threat to residents and property.
While no official link has been made between the recent events and climate change, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather has been increasing in China. In June 2024, Guangxi suffered major flooding affecting over 180,000 people.
Read Dialogue Earth’s previous report on China’s challenge to adapt to extreme weather.
