The rainfall so far this year in Beijing was the highest in 10 years, the municipal meteorological bureau said Friday.

The picture taken on June 27 shows people walk on a crossroad in Beijing's Xuanwu District in the rain. The rainfall so far this year in the capital city was the highest in 10 years, the municipal meteorological bureau said.

The precipitation in the plain regions of the Chinese capital was 207 millimeters by June 24, 70 percent more than average levels and 90 percent more than a year ago.

Despite the significant increase, the rainfall was still in normal range in the wake of drought over the past few years, the bureau noted.

It forecast that Beijing, host of the 2008 Olympics, would see more heavy rain and rainstorms from late July to early August.

(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2008)