The official Xinhua news agency in China says that as many as 8 million people in northern China are short of water due to droughts in that country. Liaoning is experiencing the worst drought in 30 years, and in Mongolia cattle are dying for lack of grass to eat. In southern China torrential rains have killed at least 76 people.
Beijing is known for its poor air quality and occasional dry periods. The summer Olympics takes place there next year.