" (...) The largest cloud seeding system in the world is that of the People's Republic of China, which believes that it increases the amount of rain over several increasingly arid regions, including its capital city, Beijing, by firing silver iodide rockets into the sky where rain is desired. There is even political strife caused by neighboring regions that accuse each other of "stealing rain" using cloud seeding. About 24 countries currently practice weather modification operationally[citation needed]. China used cloud seeding in Beijing just before the 2008 Olympic Games in order to clear the air of pollution, but there are disputes regarding the Chinese claims. In February 2009, China also blasted iodide sticks over Beijing to artificially induce snowfall after four months of drought, and blasted iodide sticks over other areas of northern China to increase snowfall. The snowfall in Beijing lasted for approximately three days and led to the closure of 12 main roads around Beijing.[35] At the end of October 2009 Beijing claimed it had its earliest snowfall since 1987 due to cloud seeding.[36] (...)"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_seedingChina lets it snow to end drought
Beijing enjoyed its third day of artificially induced snow on Thursday after its longest drought in 38 years.
The four-month drought ended on Tuesday when snow fell after iodide sticks had been fired into the sky to seed clouds.
Hundreds of sticks were also blasted on Wednesday to increase the snowfall over northern China.
"The snow has brought moisture to the soil, which may help end the drought," Guo Yingchun, an engineer at a meteorological observatory said.
The Chinese capital rarely experiences snow flurries but it was proving to be a draw for some visitor attractions including sections of the Great Wall.
The Chinese authorities have used cloud-seeding methods in the past - including to prevent rain in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics - although there is little scientific evidence of their effectiveness.
The snow led to the closure on Thursday of 12 main roads around Beijing. However the artificially-induced snow was forecast to end by nightfall, according to Beijing's meteorological bureau."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7899086.stm (with video)
