A Chinese man transports water to his home in the city of Yanan, Shaanxi province, early June 21, 2001. Yanan, the cradle of the Chinese communist revolution, is battling its worst drought in a decade. Persistent drought in northwestern and northern China has put a stranglehold on this year's crops, affecting more than 23 million hectares of non-irrigated farmland in the area.

GN/JD