A total of 26 hotels in Futian provided free accommodation for residents and tourists in the district as Typhoon Saola swept across southern China on September 1 and 2.

Packing winds of more than 200 kph (125 mph) as a super typhoon, Saola was among the strongest to menace the southern province of Guangdong since 1949, tearing down trees and smashing windows in Shenzhen, although the city avoided a feared direct hit as the powerful typhoon made landfall in Zhuhai city with winds slowing to around 160 kph in the early hours of September 2.

Futian activated a Level I emergency response for typhoon and flood control with the super typhoon Saola approaching.

In order to meet the accommodation needs of residents and tourists and ensure their safety, Futian urgently contacted hotels in the district and 26 hotels promised to offer accommodations, providing over 2,100 guest rooms for those in need.

The 26 hotels received a total of 4,905 stranded residents and tourists, with Huazhu Hotel accommodating 1,937 people, Shijie Hotel 372 and Vienna Hotel 1,077. All 18 Qiuguo hotels in the city were open to the public for free and accommodated 1,519 people (including 512 who received free accommodations).

Quan, a truck driver from outside Shenzhen who enjoyed free accommodation, exclaimed： "Shenzhen is such a city filled with warmth!" Qiuguo Hotel, a Futian-based hotel chain, opened its lobbies, restaurants, conference rooms and other public areas for free and provided hot water, food, mobile phone charging and wireless internet for free.

For citizens who needed a rest, the hotel even provided free food and accommodations, striving to provide a safe and warm haven for the public.

"For the first time in my life, I encountered a situation where not only did the hotel not raise prices during heavy wind and rain, but it also provided free accommodation. Shenzhen is truly a city filled with warmth," Quan said.

Around 8:00 p.m. September 1, amidst strong winds and heavy rain, a man drenched from head to toe entered the lobby of the Qiuguo Hotel at the Huanggang Checkpoint in Futian.

He asked if there were rooms available for around 100 yuan. The hotel staff learned that he was a truck driver named Quan, who was delivering cargo from Hangzhou in eastern China Zhejiang Province to Shenzhen.

Due to an unexpected vehicle failure on the road, he could only stay in Shenzhen. In the past, Quan would usually sleep in his truck, but due to the typhoon weather, he decided to find hotel accommodations for safety reasons.

Asking around in the pouring rain, he found Qiuguo Hotel and saw that there were vacant rooms, so he quickly inquired.

However, he also had another concern: due to financial difficulties, he could only afford around 100 yuan for the room and did not know if there were suitable options available.

Upon learning of the situation, hotel managers decided to provide free accommodation and meals for Quan.

On this stormy night, Quan finally found a warm harbor.

In another Qiuguo Hotel located in the Chegongmiao area of Futian, many residents and tourists who came to seek shelter due to the weather were also accommodated.

Li, who temporarily stayed at the hotel because she couldn't return home after work, said: "The hotel environment is especially good, and they can provide free accommodation for us. It's really nice."

Li explained that she happened to know that the hotel can provide free accommodation for those in need.

Thinking that she couldn't go home and had nowhere to stay, she decided to come to the hotel with a mindset of giving it a try.

"Unexpectedly, the receptionist was very enthusiastic and kept comforting me. I felt really warm," Li said.