Feature: Watchful guardians of Yangtze

Record rainfall means Li Jianqiang is preparing for a visit from an old adversary; floods. He has been on "dike watch" since 1981.

Li, 57, is one of tens of thousands of people deployed in times of flooding to patrol the riverbank in Wuhan, capital of central Hubei Province, one of the most populated metropolis along the Yangtze River.

Li works with a team that patrols the 2-km Longwangmiao (Temple of the Dragon God) segment. The team try to identify any signs of trouble -- including seepage and bubbles -- as early as possible to avoid the river bursting its banks.

The segment, where the Yangtze and Hanjiang rivers converge, is vital to flood control in the city.

The soft, permeable riverbed makes the task difficult.

"I feel a great responsibility," Li said, adding that his whole team were committed to maintaining the segment.

Incessant rain has pounded Wuhan since June 30, increasing the possibility of embankment breaches. On July 6 alone, the city saw 241.5 millimeters of rain, equivalent to amount that usually falls across the whole of July.

The torrential rain has caused severe waterlogging as local rivers, lakes, and reservoirs have swollen. Roads and some subway stations were also inundated.

The embankments of the Yangtze and Hanjiang rivers are being patrolled by over 25,000 people, like Li Jianqiang, in anticipation of a new round of rain from July 12 following Typhoon Nepartak.

Across the country, as of Friday, floods and geological disasters have killed at least 164 people, leaving another 26 missing, and displaced nearly two million.

The situation is reminiscent of the historic floods that hit large swathes of China in 1998.

Li remained upbeat.

"We have dramatically improved our capabilities," he said, "even if the river rises above the level of 1998, I'm still convinced that we will prevail over the flood."

Municipal flood control authorities said Sunday that the draining of lakes will make room for the coming rainfall. Nanhu Lake is gradually reducing its water level.

Last week, Premier Li Keqiang warned local authorities to prepare for the coming two month as they would be "a key period for flood control," and he instructed officials to prioritize the saving of lives and possessions. Endi