Spectacular rainbow mushroom cloud dazzled residents in southwestern China.

The incredible video was filmed in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province on September 30. The clouds, glowing with a dazzling array of hues, took on the shape of an upside-down mushroom cap, leaving spectators spellbound and filled with amazement.

Mr Chen, a witness of this spectacular occurrence, quipped, "At first glance, it looked like a UFO had graced our planet!" Another onlooker, Ms Xiao Qin, who has resided in Yunnan for a decade, shared her astonishment. "In the ten years I've been here, I've never seen such a cloud. I was simply spellbound by its beauty the moment I looked up."

The formation of these iridescent clouds is a result of sunlight passing through ice crystals within the cloud, leading to either reflection or refraction. Given the right atmospheric conditions and when sunlight hits the cloud at a precise angle, the light spectrum is separated due to the refraction and reflection caused by the ice crystals. This process scatters a mesmerizing array of seven colours across the sky.

Moreover, the creation of these kaleidoscopic clouds can also be influenced by various other factors such as rising humid air, the clash of cold and warm air fronts, and even topographical influences.

The video was provided by local media with permission.

9月30日傍晚，云南西双版纳上空出现彩云奇观，远看去就像是蘑菇的菌盖倒挂在空中，散发出美轮美奂的七彩光芒。目击者陈先生介绍，乍看上去像是UFO光临地球了，另一位目击者小芹女士介绍，她来云南十年了，第一次看到这种云，一抬头心都被美麻了。
彩云的形成是由于太阳光线通过云中冰晶结构的反射或折射而产生的光学现象。在一定天气状况下，太阳光正好和云构成一个恰当的角度，阳光透过云时，通过冰晶的折射和反射作用，太阳光谱被分离，从而散射出七色光芒。此外，彩云的形成还受到其他因素的影响，如潮湿空气上升、冷暖空气交锋、地形作用等。