No rain on our parade

The sky was clear over Tian'anmen Square on National Day, thanks to the air force of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), which carried out its largest weather modification program to date to ensure there was no rain on the parade.

The air force deployed 18 aircraft to spray environmentally friendly activators into rain-bearing clouds to "seed" them, making them rain before the nation's big birthday party, instead of on it.

Beijing was doused with rain on Wednesday night and early Thursday after the air force's efforts.