In the wake of heavy downpours in Anhui province, 22-year-old Tan Kang, a graduate from Huangshan University skipped his college graduate celebrations to rush back to his hometown of Susong county to assist in flood control efforts.

This is not Tan's first time helping with flood control. Four years ago, after the national college entrance exam, or gaokao, he got his exam results, which was higher than expected, while patrolling the dike with his grandfather Tan Lasheng.

Since the Tongma dike of Yangtze River activated Level-III emergency response to flooding in the early morning of June 29, 69 tents have been set up and nearly 1,000 officials and volunteers have been mobilized to patrol the Susong section of Tongma dike round the clock. Tan was one of them.