CHINA is launching a bizarre bid to control Earth's weather so it can shift rain clouds thousands of miles from its soaking south to its parched north.

Six satellites will form a ring to spot water-laden clouds and create an atmospheric corridor to allow them to move to the arid regions, state media said.

Tianhe ? which translates as "Sky River" ? is being developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology and will reportedly be launched in 2020.

China's damp southern regions often flood while the north suffers drought.

But the problem is having enough rain clouds to instigate downpours with.

Now state scientists and researchers are pursuing weather modification techniques to guide clouds north to the Yellow River basin, which is particularly dry.