On the evening of November 6, 2026, a spectacular event occurred as residents across Beijing and surrounding provinces witnessed a massive “fireball meteor” descending from the sky. Reports of similar phenomena had been emerging since October, leading to much discussion on social media. In traditional Chinese culture, the fall of a meteor is often regarded as an omen of misfortune.
The extraordinary sight was recorded around 6:31 PM, as people in Beijing, as well as in neighboring provinces like Hebei, Shanxi, Henan, and Inner Mongolia, observed a bright “fireball” illuminating the night. As the object approached the ground, it exploded with a tremendous sound, creating an awe-inspiring scene.
Numerous residents took to social media to express their astonishment. Several individuals reported seeing the brilliant fireball in the southwestern sky above Beijing.
According to reports from Sichuan Broadcasting and Television Station, people in areas including Beijing, Shanxi, and Hebei confirmed seeing a highly luminous fireball, which was glimmering with green light, streak across the evening sky.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage shared online indicated that the colossal fireball vanished just before reaching the ground.
A Beijing local, Mr. Wu, explained that he was near the Sanyuanqiao section of the Beijing-Kunming Expressway when he spotted the fireball. He described it as descending at a steep angle of about 30 degrees towards the earth. “The fireball was incredibly bright and colorful, looking exactly like a flaming sphere,” he recounted. “My friends in the car and I were so taken aback that by the time we raised our phones to record, it had already disappeared, lasting only two to three seconds. I checked my phone and it was around 6:30 PM.”
Another internet user, known as @HouAn, shared that he also saw the fireball around the same time while on Wan’an East Road in Beijing’s Haidian District. Initially scared by the sight, he later discovered that many others had witnessed the same spectacle.
A resident from Zhangjiakou City in Hebei Province reported experiencing the fiery event around 6:30 PM as well. She described her view of the meteor as “eye-opening,” noting that it lasted about four to five seconds. The meteor burst onto the scene with a combination of green, yellow, and red lights, initially leading her to suspect that someone was setting off fireworks. As the fireball traveled through the clouds, it illuminated them as well.
Dr. Zhu Jin, the former director of the Beijing Astronomical Observatory, analyzed video footage shared by netizens and stated that the imagery likely depicted a fireball meteor, categorized as a sporadic meteor, which can sometimes leave behind meteorites. He informed the Beijing Youth Daily that this particular meteor seemed to be quite substantial.
As the fireball descended, it appeared to momentarily brighten the night sky across northern China and culminated in a violent explosion as it neared the ground.
That night, a blogger from Hebei released footage capturing flames and thick smoke rising from a remote area, suggesting a fire ignited by the meteor’s descent. Other videos showcased police vehicles parked in the wilderness, cordoning off the area.
The blogger humorously noted that they were too “chicken” to reveal the exact location of the event but joked about returning the next day in hopes of discovering a meteorite to sell for a hefty sum.
Just a few days prior, on November 1, the night sky in multiple regions of Yunnan presented another unexplained spectacle with a “blue-tailed” unidentified flying object, which sparked significant chatter online. Multiple netizens uploaded videos, with one user named “Cestbon” capturing a fireball meteor on their dashcam at 7:14 PM.
Mr. Huang, a resident of Jiangchuan, shared surveillance footage showing a dazzling light streaking through the dark sky around 7:30 PM on November 1, resembling a falling star with a long white tail, which quickly vanished.
On October 5, various netizens from cities like Xi’an in Shaanxi documented a large blue fireball meteor falling, accompanied by explosive sounds.
Earlier, on October 12, a green fireball meteor lit up the sky over Shenzhen. The Shenzhen Astronomical Observatory confirmed monitoring the event, clarifying that the meteorite did not fall in the Pingshan district, but its probable landing or breakup location was speculated to be in the Huizhou or Dongguan regions.
Astronomers indicated that the period from early to mid-November would see heightened activity from the Taurids meteor shower. Due to differences in the radiation point’s location, this meteor shower is divided into the Southern Taurid meteor shower and the Northern Taurid meteor shower.
The Southern Taurid meteor shower has been active for a two-month period, with two peaks: the first occurring in October, which has just passed, and the second occurring around November 4 to 5, which is known for frequent fireball meteors.
The Northern Taurid meteor shower is expected to peak on November 12, continuing until approximately December 10.
Historically, Chinese texts have frequently described meteors as ominous signs, often linked to disasters or significant deaths among influential figures. For instance, the “Song History” chronicles unusual celestial phenomena before the fall of the Southern Song Dynasty, including red skies and meteors falling into the sea.
In March 1976, the largest meteor shower in history fell in Jilin, coinciding with the deaths of key leaders Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, and Mao Zedong within that year. Additionally, this period was marked by the devastating Tangshan earthquake, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties.