On July 2, a rare phenomenon called a “halo” appeared in the sky over Ningbo and Shanghai, China. In simple terms, a halo is a huge circular halo formed around the sun, which is extremely rare and has attracted attention.
A netizen from Shanghai posted a video claiming that they unexpectedly saw the “halo” while visiting an exhibition at the Pudong Art Museum. They looked up while on the Lujiazui Skybridge and witnessed this spectacle for the first time in their life.
The video shows a massive halo in the sky between the buildings, presenting a spectacular sight.
Witnesses at the scene described a giant colored halo with a diameter of over half a meter surrounding the sun, with a rainbow-like glow in the sky that was clearly visible.
On the same day, this rare phenomenon also appeared in the sky over Ningbo. According to the report by the Ningbo Evening News, on the morning of the 2nd, residents of the Donghai Huayuan community in Yinzhou, Ningbo, noticed a “halo” in the sky. In addition, netizens from Guangxi and Henan also shared photos of the halo they captured online.
Many netizens commented, “Rare sight,” “Feels like crossing over, a clear circular halo in another world sky.”
In ancient China, halos were often considered ominous signs. For example, in the “Military Strategy of the Yellow Emperor,” it is mentioned that a rainbow entering from the south during a siege indicates victory for those inside the city. And if a white rainbow surrounds the city without completing a circle, attacking from that direction will lead to victory. It is advised to guard against the exposed side, as the enemy will break and flee from there.
Historical records in the Song Dynasty mention that halos of different colors and shapes represent various omens. For instance, a semicircular halo signifies conspiracy, a yellow halo signifies auspicious events, and a black halo signifies disaster. An intense halo indicates a bountiful harvest, a green color signifies military activity and expensive grains, a red color signifies a locust plague. Moreover, multiple rings indicate the rise of troops, rebellion, famine, mourning, national calamity, and the downfall of the country.