The temporary policy marks a growing trend of water shortages across the city created by years of drought and a dwindling supplies, the China Daily said.

Duan Qinglin, deputy head of the park's management office, said the public may not be able to take part in any water activities, such as boating, until mid-April.

Duan said Beijing has suffered five straight years of drought and the water level at the park has steadily dropped.

Yuanmingyuan is not alone, according to the report.

The Weiming Lake at Peking University is also running dry with the water level down to less than 30 centimetres (12 inches) in some areas.

Kunming Lake at the Summer Palace, a major tourist draw, faces similar problems.

Experts said drought has caused Beijing's usual water supply of four billion cubic metres a year to fall to 3.6 billion cubic metres.

As one of China's most populous regions, Beijing's average annual per-capita water availability is only 200-plus cubic metres, about one-32nd of the international average.

The municipal bureau of water resources has worked out an emergency supply plan to cut extra water use beyond the basic consumption needs of residents and key industries.

According to the plan, water for irrigation will be limited in drought years, and the water levels in lakes and some minor industries will also be cut if the situation worsens.

This year, the thirsty city has also started to limit the development of industries that use high levels of water such as textiles and paper making.

Zheng Qiuli, an official with the water resources bureau, said the city was trying to enlarge its water supply while also conserving it.

She said rehabilitation of the Guanting Reservoir, the second largest in Beijing, would be finished next year, and by then the reservoir's water should be fit for drinking again.

Due to severe pollution in Beijing and neighbouring areas, the Guanting Reservoir has not supplied drinking water since 1997.

TERRA.WIRE