(A mirage appears off the shore of Penglai City in eastern China's
Shandong Province on Sunday, May 7, 2005. Photo: China Photo
Press)
(A mirage appears off the shore of Penglai City in eastern China's
Shandong Province on Sunday, May 7, 2005. Photo: China Photo
Press)
Thousands of tourists and local residents witnessed a mirage of
high clarity lasting for four hours off the shore of Penglai City
in east China's Shandong Province on Sunday.
Mists rising on the shore created an image of a city, with modern
high-rise buildings, broad city streets and bustling cars as well
as crowds of people all clearly visible.
The city of Penglai had been soaked by two days of rain before the
rare weather phenomenon occurred.
The mirage took place during the week-long Labor Day holiday. The
small city received over 30,000 tourists on Sunday.
Experts said that many mirages have been recorded in Penglai, on
the tip of Shandong Peninsula, throughout history, which made it
known as a dwelling place of the gods.
They explained that a mirage is formed when moisture in the air
becomes warmer than the temperature of sea water, which refracts
rays of sunlight to create reflections of the landscape in the
sky.