The persistent lack of rain has shrunk the Xiangjiang River in central China's Hunan province. The current water level of Xiangjiang River is as low as 25.65 meters, which nears the 25.1 meters warning level for city water supply. Photo taken on Oct 15, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

An air hostess of China Southern Airlines greets guests at a launching ceremony after the first Airbus A380 delivered to this carrier lands at Beijing Capital International Airport Oct 15, 2011. China Southern Airlines became the first Chinese operator of the Airbus A380 Superjumbo. The Guangzhou-based airline will start flying the double-decker aircraft on commercial routes on Oct 17. It will begin flights from Beijing to Guangzhou and Shanghai between Oct 17 and 29. [Photo/Xinhua]