On a crisp morning at Hukou Waterfall, one of the Chinese mainland's most spectacular natural landmarks on the Yellow River, visitors were astonished as mist and sunlight collided, revealing a luminous rainbow halo high above the thundering cascades.
According to local meteorologists, this optical phenomenon, known as a 22-degree halo, forms when sunlight refracts and reflects through millions of tiny water droplets and ice crystals suspended in the waterfall's mist. The precise angle creates a perfect circular arc of light around the sun.
While rainbow halos are more common in polar regions or high-altitude clouds, seeing one at this riverside wonder is exceptionally rare. In the past decade, visitors have reported sightings only four times, making each appearance a highly anticipated event.
For young travelers and digital nomads, the spectacle quickly went viral. Within hours, social media feeds lit up with footage under the hashtag #RainbowHalo, amassing over 10,000 posts. Experts say such phenomena remind us of nature's capacity to surprise and inspire curiosity.
"I was speechless," said Li Wei, a photographer from Beijing, who captured the moment with a drone. "The halo made the waterfall look like it was levitating in a ring of light."
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
