Wuhan, the capital of central China’s Hubei province, gets hammered by heavy summer rains every year. There are popular online jokes about enjoying the inland city's 'ocean views'. But now, a 1.5 billion yuan "Sponge City" project -- paid for by the central government -- will help Wuhan residents defend against floods in the future. 

This summer, Wuhan was again treated to an inland “ocean view". Torrential rains over the span of one week reached 560.5 millimeters -- a new record. High water disrupted traffic on more than 200 roads. Subway stations, underground passages, and a tunnel that goes under the Yangtze River were flooded.

Many criticized the city's drainage system and water management.

"I swam home yesterday. My mom was too worried. So I decided to get out of my house and go to my mom's," said a Wuhan resident.

"There’s too much water here. We were trapped for two days. There is no electricity and very little water. Now we have run out of food supplies. And my grandson needs medicine," said another Wuhan resident.
 
Wuhan was just one of several major cities across China affected by floods. Even the capital, Beijing, seemed powerless against high levels of rain.

But the central government is taking steps to fight back. Last April, the “sponge city” pilot program was rolled out in 16 cities, including Wuhan. The project will help cities improve their city drainage systems, install pumps, build green spaces to soak up excess water, and cover their streets with permeable concrete.

"It will take at least three years for the Sponge City program to take any effect. It probably will get better next summer. And I think the most important issue is to build the city’s underground pipe network," said Ren Yongzheng, Vice Professor of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

Wuhan is located along the Yangtze River and Han River. 127 lakes used to cover over a quarter of the city. Today only 38 lakes remain. Water coverage has shrunk by 230 square kilometers.

Wuhan city government says it is committed to protecting the rest of the city's lakes and rivers, and spend more money on public-works projects -- like upgrading its sewer pipes.

This Wednesday, Premier Li Keqiang said heavy rainfall caused the floods. But high waters in Chinese cities also reflected a 'historical deficit' in urban construction. He called for greater efforts to improve urban planning, so that China's cities can absorb any challenge that Mother Nature throws at them.