While heavy snow and icy rains are causing problems for spring travel in Southern China, the country's northern regions are experiencing the worst drought in six decades. Areas such as Beijing, Henan, Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong and Jiangsu have been parched by droughts since last October. Over 2 million people and 60 million hectares of crops are now running short of water.

Xuchang in central China's Henan Province hasn't seen a drop of rain for three months.

Land is drying out, crops are dying.

A farmer said, I have not watered my crops, output will reduce with no doubt.

The local government is opening reservoirs in a bid to help worried farmers. Thirteen local reservoirs irrigate 1 thousand hectares of crops in just one morning.

Wu Jianmin said, The irrigation really saves crops. I think the harvest this year will not be too bad.

East China's Qingdao in Shandong Province is also being hit hard by drought. Ms. Li lives in DAOHUILIU community. Tap water there dried up 2 months ago, residents now have to carry water from a local river.

Ms. Li said, We all have to rely on the river water. I don't know whether we can carry on to the Spring Festival.

The Capital Beijing has not seen any rain for 92 days. Water levels are continuing to fall and the depleted Miyun reservoir is threatening to turn the taps off for 17 million residents and access to drinking water. Experts forecast that Beijing will not see any rain until February.

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