The drought-conditions not only affect people's daily lives, but also the market.

In Guizhou province, people are short of vegetable supplies because of the poor spring harvest. Some cities report over a doubling of price rises.

The drought also cut half of the harvests of many economic plants, including fruit, tea, rubber, coffee and flowers.

It has seriously cut down fresh flower output in Yunnan province - China's largest fresh flower production and export base, driving up market prices.

It has even affected the capital Beijing. Flower and tea prices are seeing a 100 percent price rise in the national capital.