National-level weather modification laboratories will be built in areas around Beijing, according to a plan released by the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic body, and the China Meteorological Administration.

The National Development Plan on Weather Modification 2014-2020 says research on aerosol, cloud, fog, precipitation and weather alteration would be conducted, Beijing News reports.

These national-level laboratories would also provide technological support in creating artificial rain to help battle China's smog problem.

By 2020, the country would have developed sophisticated weather modification systems capable of increasing artificial rainfall and snowfall, with added water of more than 60 billion cubic meters annually.

The plan states that smog poses a huge threat to human health, transportation as well as the urban environment and greatly influences production activities, alongside the daily lives of common people.

However, one expert said that artificial rainfall is hard to achieve during bouts of heavy smog because weather conditions are relatively stable during that time.

It is also unknown how much rain would be needed to dispel smog as previous research focused on artificial rain to relieve drought conditions or increase water resources, it was added.