Fowls walk in a dry-up pond in Xinshao County, central China's Hunan Province on July 29, 2007. Continuous hot and arid weather has been plaguing the province since summer began. According to the provincial flood relief and drought prevention center, half of the province is reeling from drought, which hit 1,256 towns in 10 cities and 88 counties, affecting 598,000 hectares of farmland and 638 reservoirs.

 

A toy is seen in a dry-up pond in Xinshao County, central China's Hunan Province on July 29, 2007.

 

A broken dustbin is seen a dry-up pond in Xinshao County, central China's Hunan Province on July 29, 2007.

 

A broken bucket is seen a dry-up pond in Xinshao County, central China's Hunan Province on July 29, 2007.

 

(China Daily July 30, 2007)