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FOSHAN, China — Real or Photoshopped? Cloud formations in China in early October appeared to show floating cities in the sky.
A video uploaded to YouTube shows what appears to be tall, dark buildings rising out of a cloud in the sky over the Chinese city of Foshan, reported first by the Independent. The YouTube video has been viewed over 4.5 million times.
A similar floating city was seen over Jiangxi, China a few days later, according to Gizmodo. Multiple experts state while the cities looks real, it's a result of a common optical illusion called Fata Morgana. This happens when rays of light are bent while passing through air layers with different temperatures during a thermal inversion, which then forms a superior mirage, Science Alert reported.
Fata Morganas have shown illusions such as floating castles and twisted mountains. Earlier this year, a Fata Morgana appeared to show a floating boat over Lake Superior.










