Clearing the clouds

A rain-reduction drill was held here on Wednesday to help ensure the opening and closing ceremonies of next year's Olympics are rain-free.

Three planes carrying 30 technicians flew for about three hours within an 80-km-radius area about 8,000 m above Hohhot, capital city of North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, spreading silver iodide and 2,800 kg of diatomite into the clouds.

(China Daily 08/10/2007 page4)