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China: Chicken Seen Swimming in Sichuan

On November 2, 2025, a video from Sichuan, southwestern China, showed a chicken effortlessly swimming in a pond, while a duck looked on curiously from a blue platform. Normally, chickens flounder and sink in water, but this one moved easily across the surface.

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China: Crab Seen Releasing Black Smoke-Like Plumes in Fujian

A crab in Fujian, China, was seen releasing thick black smoke-like streams from its mouth on October 25, 2025, astonishing viewers online. Video shows the crab sitting in a tank as dark plumes cloud the water, leaving onlookers baffled by the strange phenomenon.

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Japan: Rare Low-Latitude Aurora Observed in Hokkaido

A rare low-latitude aurora was observed in parts of Hokkaido on Wednesday night, November 12.

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China: Mysterious Blue Beam Lights Up Night Sky Over Ningbo Beach

On October 4, 2025, in Ningbo, Zhejiang, a video captured a rare phenomenon over Songlanshan Beach, where a bright blue beam stretched across the sky, glowing like a divine ray.

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China: Beijing Go-Kart Track Hit by Sudden Hailstorm

On September 13, 2025, in Beijing, China, a man was driving a go-kart when a sudden hailstorm hit. The track was quickly covered with icy pellets, making it slippery and reducing visibility. The man struggled to control the kart but managed to steer carefully until the hail eased.

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China: Rare Hailstorm Pummels Beijing

On September 13, 2025, in Beijing, China, a hailstorm dropped large ice chunks, scattering leaves and debris. Residents described the storm as terrifying and intense.

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China: Beijing Streets Covered in Thick Hail After Severe Storm

On September 13, 2025, in Beijing, China, streets and sidewalks were covered with thick layers of hail. Cars were trapped, and pedestrians carefully walked across icy roads.

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China: Rare Hailstorm Pummels Beijing 2

On September 13, 2025, in Beijing, China, a hailstorm dropped large ice chunks, scattering leaves and debris. Residents described the storm as terrifying and intense.

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Japan: Rare Brocken Spectre with Rainbow Halo Spotted in Japanese Alps

Captured at Karasawa-dake, a peak near Mount Okuhotaka, this video shows a rare Brocken spectre. The climber’s shadow appears on the mist below, clearly surrounded by a bright, rainbow-colored halo. This optical phenomenon occurs when the sun is low behind the observer, creating a ghostly shadow that seems to float in the clouds.

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Rare Red Sprite Lightning - China

This photo taken on August 21, 2025 shows a rare red lightning phenomenon known as "red sprites" captured near Mount Kangrinboqe, a sacred site for followers of Hinduism and Buddhism located at an elevation of 6,656 meters in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. TO GO WITH "Rare 'red sprite' lightning photographed in SW China's Xizang" (Photo by Chang Dongsheng/Xinhua)

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Rare Red Sprite Lightning - China

This photo taken on August 21, 2025 shows a rare red lightning phenomenon known as "red sprites" captured near Mount Kangrinboqe, a sacred site for followers of Hinduism and Buddhism located at an elevation of 6,656 meters in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. TO GO WITH "Rare 'red sprite' lightning photographed in SW China's Xizang" Photo by Zhou Bo/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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China: Rare ‘Cloud Waterfall’ Stuns Tourists on Laowang Mountain

On July 31, 2025, tourists climbing Laowang Mountain in Liupanshui, Guizhou, encountered a rare “cloud waterfall” — massive waves of mist cascading down the slopes like a roaring galaxy. The video shows visitors filming the surreal scene as clouds rolled over the peak, creating a once‑in‑a‑lifetime spectacle.

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China: Rare Waterspout Twirls Over Songyuan Sky

This stunning moment captured a rare waterspout phenomenon, known locally as a “dragon sucking water,” appearing in the sky on July 16, 2025, in Songyuan, Jilin. It mesmerized onlookers with its swirling, column-like form. The rare sight left local residents in awe, as the phenomenon remained visible for about three to four minutes before gradually fading away.

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China: Tourists Amazed by Chilling Mist From Cave Mouth

A visitor in Yichang, Hubei, China, stumbled upon a cave venting a strikingly visible stream of cool air on July 9, 2025, stunning onlookers with this rare natural phenomenon. The video captures thick, white, mist-like cold air flowing steadily from the cave, billowing and drifting across the ground.

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China: Rare Sun Halo Appears Over Ningbo Amid Heatwave

On July 1, 2025, a rare sun halo appeared over Ningbo, Zhejiang, drawing the attention of passersby who stopped to watch. The phenomenon, caused by sunlight passing through ice crystals, occurred amid a heatwave with temperatures nearing 40 °C.

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China: Two Full-Arc Rainbows Appear Over Sayram Lake

This is the stunning moment that a group of tourists captured when two full-arc rainbows appeared fully above Sayram Lake, following a rain shower on June 16, 2025. The larger primary rainbow displayed full spectral intensity, while the secondary arc, fainter yet clearly visible, added to the scene’s enchantment.

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China: Lightning Strikes Through Rainbow as Sunset Paints Sky in Inner Mongolia

This is the stunning moment that a rare mix of lightning and rainbow lit up the sky, capturing a breathtaking scene that also featured sunset and colorful clouds. On May 11, 2025, in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, the video showed a rare atmospheric phenomenon where a bolt of lightning slashed through the sky as a vivid rainbow arched across the horizon. As the sun began to set, casting an orange hue over the clouds, onlookers were treated to a mesmerizing display where multiple natural elements, lightning, rainbow, sunset, and painted clouds, had converged in one frame. The lightning bolt flashed dramatically across the sky just beneath the arc of the rainbow, creating a moment of natural beauty that was rarely seen together. The video ended with the lightning fading into the distance as the rainbow slowly dissolved into the dusky sky.

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China: Rare ‘Buddha’s Light’ Halo Seen on Sichuan Mountain

This breathtaking moment captures a rare “Buddha’s Light” phenomenon encircling a hiker’s head on a mountaintop trail. On June 5, 2025, while hiking Jiuding Mountain in Sichuan, a man recorded a vivid, rainbow-colored halo — known as a “Buddha’s Light” or Brocken Spectre — forming around his head in the misty air. The optical illusion followed him for several meters, creating a surreal, almost mystical scene as he walked through the fog. According to the hiker, Mr. He, the phenomenon appeared not only around his own head but also around those of other nearby hikers, lasting for about 30 seconds. The video ends with the glowing halo slowly fading as the group continued along the mist-covered trail."

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China: Brief Appearance of Seven-Colored Cloud Amazes Locals in Hubei

This rare moment captures an iridescent cloud spotted in the sky, as a local resident managed to film the fleeting phenomenon before it vanished within minutes. Filmed on May 30, 2025, in Enshi, Hubei Province, China, the video shows a vibrant, seven-colored cloud glowing above the skyline. The shimmering formation, commonly known as a "rainbow auspicious cloud", was visible for only about two minutes before fading into the atmosphere.

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China: Dust Devil Spins Through Mount Wutai Scenic Area

On May 5, 2025, a dust devil rapidly formed and dissipated within seconds in the Mount Wutai scenic area of Shanxi. The swirling vortex moved swiftly across a path, creating a dramatic contrast against the otherwise calm, mountainous surroundings. According to local meteorological authorities, the dust devil was caused by intense localized surface heating, which triggered the rapid upward movement of warm air.

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China: Black Rain Falls in Huizhou, Guangdong Following Local Warehouse Fire

This is the startling moment that residents experienced black rain, an unusual occurrence that dirtied vehicles and streets. On March 31, 2025, in Huizhou, Guangdong, the black rain could be seen staining everything it touched in the video. The phenomenon occurred shortly after a fire at the nearby Ande Logistics Warehouse, located next to the Huizhou West Station. The fire's intensity and proximity to weather systems resulted in the absorption of smoke and ash by rainclouds, leading to the precipitation of black rain over the city. Fortunately, the incident resulted in no casualties.

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China: Feather-like Snowflakes Blanket Huangshi’s Peaks

On January 26, 2025, in Huangshi, Hubei, a man marveled at the delicate ice formations, which resembled soft feathers scattered across the landscape. According to the videographer, Mr. Chen, the temperature had plunged dramatically from 20 degrees Celsius to minus 3 degrees Celsius, prompting him to document the breathtaking phenomenon upon reaching the summit. The video concluded with a serene view of the snow-blanketed mountain, offering a rare glimpse into the beauty of nature’s winter artistry in this region of China.

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France: Twin Waterspouts Spotted in Landes

Twin waterspouts were spotted off the coast of Landes, southwestern France on Wednesday morning, March 12.

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China: Dragon-Shaped Rainbow Cloud Graces Changbai Mountain

On December 5, 2024, in Yanbian, Jilin, a video captured a colorful cloud illuminated by sunlight, resembling a dragon's head, which is a symbol of good luck in Chinese culture. Mr. Gao, who had worked in the area for over ten years, filmed the rare spectacle and expressed that it was the largest formation of its kind he had ever seen. He concluded the video by hoping that the auspicious cloud would bring good fortune to all who saw it.

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China: Crows Darken Skies Of Chifeng In Rare Gathering In Inner Mongolia

On the evening of October 26, 2024, a swarm of crows gathered above Chifeng City Hospital in Inner Mongolia, with some birds perched on the roof. This unusual phenomenon has occurred before in the area, with local officials attributing it to the "urban heat island effect" that attracts the crows. Experts warn that crow droppings can damage vehicles and clothing. The event ended without incident, but authorities continue to monitor the situation.

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China: Waterspout Spotted Over Qinghai Lake

On October 9, 2024, a spectacular natural phenomenon was captured over Qinghai Lake in Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, located in northwestern China’s Qinghai Province. In the video, a thick layer of clouds hovered in the sky while a massive column of water shot straight from the lake's surface toward the clouds. This rare event, known as a waterspout, resembled a giant dragon playing in the water, as if linking the lake to the sky. Waterspouts are a type of tornado that forms over water, featuring a rapidly rotating funnel of wind driven by intense low pressure. The breathtaking scene left Chinese onlookers in awe of nature’s power and beauty.

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US: Florida Skies Eerily Turn Purple Before Hurricane Milton Slams Into State

The skies over Florida unusually turned purple Wednesday evening, October 9 right before Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Sunshine state.

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China: Low-Hanging Black Clouds Cover City At Dramatic Sunset In Inner Mongolia

On September 7, 2024, in Xilingol, Inner Mongolia, northern China, a video captured a striking weather phenomenon. Ominous black clouds loomed heavily over the city, while a streak of orange-yellow sunset lit up the horizon, creating a sharp contrast with the dark, dense clouds above. Many Chinese netizens expressed their surprise, commenting, “It’s the first time I’ve seen clouds hanging so low.”

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Partial Lunar Eclipse Coinciding With Harvest Supermoon Lights Up Night Skies 3

A partial lunar eclipse of the Harvest Moon, coinciding with a supermoon, lit up the skies worldwide on Tuesday, September 17.

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Partial Lunar Eclipse Coinciding With Harvest Supermoon Lights Up Night Skies 2

A partial lunar eclipse of the Harvest Moon, coinciding with a supermoon, lit up the skies worldwide on Tuesday, September 17.

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Partial Lunar Eclipse Coinciding With Harvest Supermoon Lights Up Night Skies

A partial lunar eclipse of the Harvest Moon, coinciding with a supermoon, lit up the skies worldwide on Tuesday, September 17.

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US: Double Waterspout Spotted Off Panama City Beach, Florida

A double waterspout was spotted off the coast of Panama City Beach, Florida on Saturday, August 10.

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China: Rare ‘Buddha’s Light’ Phenomenon Spotted In Qingdao

On Tuesday, June 18, a rare phenomenon called "Buddha's light" was spotted on the top of Wushan in Qingdao, Shandong Province. In China, the optical phenomenon is called "Buddha's light" or "Buddha's halo" and is often observed on high, cloud-covered mountains.

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Mongolia sees rare summer snow

STORY: Mongolia sees rare summer snow SHOOTING TIME: June 21, 2024 DATELINE: June 21, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:16 LOCATION: Ulan Bator CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of rare summer snow in Mongolia STORYLINE: Rare summer snow is falling in parts of Mongolia, including the national capital Ulan Bator on Friday. Heavy rains have been falling in the eastern, western and central parts of the country since Thursday morning, turning into snow on Friday morning. Although Mongolia has a harsh continental climate, snow in summer is a rare phenomenon. The Asian country's National Emergency Management Agency has urged the public to take extra precautions against possible disasters. The unstable weather conditions are expected to continue through the weekend, according to meteorologists of the country. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ulan Bator. (XHTV)

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China: Rare Phenomenon Sundog Spotted In Yingshang County, Anhui

A spectacular phenomenon called Sundog was spotted by a photographer in Yingshang County, Fuyang City, Anhui Province on May 19, 2024 around 7 pm. A sundog, also called mock sun or parhelion, is an atmospheric optical phenomenon caused by reflecting and refracting light rays, resulting in the appearance of two virtual images of the sun.

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Italy: Mount Etna Blows Vortex Rings Into Sky 2

This video shows Sicily's Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe, blowing smoke rings into the sky on Thursday, April 4. The rare phenomenon, called vortex rings, has been seen since Wednesday, April 3, after a new crater opened on Etna's summit.

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Italy: Mount Etna Blows Vortex Rings Into Sky

This video shows Sicily's Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe, blowing smoke rings into the sky on Saturday, April 6. The rare phenomenon, called vortex rings, has been seen since Wednesday, April 3, after a new crater opened on Etna's summit.

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The Great North American Solar Eclipse As Seen From Canada Ontario

A total solar eclipse crossed through North America on Monday, April 8. While the phenomenon occurs once or twice a year in various locations around the world, this one is rare because of the wide area across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada that can observe totality or the complete blocking of the sun by the moon.

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The Great North American Solar Eclipse As Seen From Kentucky

A total solar eclipse crossed through North America on Monday, April 8. While the phenomenon occurs once or twice a year in various locations around the world, this one is rare because of the wide area across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada that can observe totality or the complete blocking of the sun by the moon.

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The Great North American Solar Eclipse As Seen From Texas

A total solar eclipse crossed through North America on Monday, April 8. While the phenomenon occurs once or twice a year in various locations around the world, this one is rare because of the wide area across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada that can observe totality or the complete blocking of the sun by the moon.

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The Great North American Solar Eclipse As Seen From Ohio

A total solar eclipse crossed through North America on Monday, April 8. While the phenomenon occurs once or twice a year in various locations around the world, this one is rare because of the wide area across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada that can observe totality or the complete blocking of the sun by the moon.

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The Great North American Solar Eclipse As Seen From Pennsylvania

A total solar eclipse crossed through North America on Monday, April 8. While the phenomenon occurs once or twice a year in various locations around the world, this one is rare because of the wide area across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada that can observe totality or the complete blocking of the sun by the moon.

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2024 Total Solar Eclipse Crosses North America 7

A total solar eclipse crossed through North America on Monday, April 8. While the phenomenon occurs once or twice a year in various locations around the world, this one is rare, given its wide area across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada and the fact that it provided totality or the complete blocking of the sun by the moon. This video shows skygazers in Dallas reacting to the clouds blocking the view after a brief appearance of the eclipse.

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2024 Total Solar Eclipse Crosses North America 4

A total solar eclipse crossed through North America on Monday, April 8. While the phenomenon occurs once or twice a year in various locations around the world, this one is rare, given its wide area across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada and the fact that it provided totality or the complete blocking of the sun by the moon.

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2024 Total Solar Eclipse Crosses North America 5

A total solar eclipse crossed through North America on Monday, April 8. While the phenomenon occurs once or twice a year in various locations around the world, this one is rare, given its wide area across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada and the fact that it provided totality or the complete blocking of the sun by the moon.

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2024 Total Solar Eclipse Crosses North America 6

A total solar eclipse crossed through North America on Monday, April 8. While the phenomenon occurs once or twice a year in various locations around the world, this one is rare, given its wide area across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada and the fact that it provided totality or the complete blocking of the sun by the moon.

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2024 Total Solar Eclipse Crosses North America 3

A total solar eclipse crossed through North America on Monday, April 8. While the phenomenon occurs once or twice a year in various locations around the world, this one is rare, given its wide area across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada and the fact that it provided totality or the complete blocking of the sun by the moon.

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2024 Total Solar Eclipse Crosses North America

A total solar eclipse crossed through North America on Monday, April 8. While the phenomenon occurs once or twice a year in various locations around the world, this one is rare, given its wide area across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada and the fact that it provided totality or the complete blocking of the sun by the moon.

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2024 Total Solar Eclipse Crosses North America 2

A total solar eclipse crossed through North America on Monday, April 8. While the phenomenon occurs once or twice a year in various locations around the world, this one is rare, given its wide area across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada and the fact that it provided totality or the complete blocking of the sun by the moon.

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Egypt's Abu Simbel Temple welcomes solar alignment

STORY: Egypt's Abu Simbel Temple welcomes solar alignment SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 22, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 23, 2024 LENGTH: 0:00:36 LOCATION: ASWAN, Egypt CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of exterior of Abu Simbel Temple 2. various of interior of Abu Simbel Temple illuminated by sunlight STORYLINE: Tourists witnessed the solar alignment over Abu Simbel Temple in Aswan, Egypt, as rays of the morning sun reached the innermost shrine and illuminated inside sculptures on Thursday. The solar alignment, a rare phenomenon, takes place twice a year on Feb. 22 and Oct. 22. Locals believe the dates mark the coronation of King Ramses II and his birthday respectively. Abu Simbel Temple is one of the largest temples carved in rocks in the world and was built by Ramses nearly 3,300 years ago. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Aswan, Egypt. (XHTV)