A mysterious cloud formation over two cities in China has sent shockwaves across the country. The emergence of buildings through the clouds over the Guangdong and Jiangxi provinces has led many to call it the “floating city.” Life was brought to a standstill in the city of Foshan in Guangdong province when people observed tower-like formations on the skyline that lasted a few minutes and disappeared.

Meteorological experts have suggested that the phenomenon was indeed a natural optical illusion, a mirage called Fata Morgana. This illusion is observed over both sea and land and involves the visual distortion of distant objects, which may appear to be inverted. Fata Morgana is what can cause boats to appear as towering skyscrapers due to the stacking of images, caused by the bending of light rays on passing through air of varying temperatures and densities, reports Express UK. It is commonly observed in formations of a heat haze.

However, conspiracy theorists, drawing attention to the 2011 sighting in China of a similar phenomenon, believe that China’s floating city was a part of NASA’s “Project Blue Beam.” It is believed among conspiracy circles that NASA plans to create mass hysteria, at some point in the future, by simulating an apocalyptic event, like an alien invasion or the second coming of Christ through holograms. The floating city over China may have been a test run to gauge public response in populated areas, according to a conspiracy channel on Youtube.

Physics, however, seems to be the most plausible explanation. Fata morgana has been a fascinating phenomenon that has scared as well as captivated observers across history. Marina Warner, in her book “Phantasmagoria,” argues that one of the early observers of the phenomenon, Father Domenico Giardina, was the first to make “careful” observations of fata morgana by applying scientific principles, reports The Guardian.

Some observers also cast doubts on the validity of the video showing the floating city over China, which appeared to be the only source available on the internet. Others claimed the video had been edited to create the effect of floating city, reports Asia Times. It was shown on some news programme on Chinese television.

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