A striking sundog (also known as parhelion) appeared over Xiliinhot city, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Dec 11, casting a colorful halo across the sky.

Sundog refers to a bright spot that appears in the sky on either side of the sun, caused by the refraction of light through ice crystals in high clouds.

A spectacular sundog appears over Xiliinhot city on Dec 11. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]

People pose for a photo under the sundog. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]

A huge sundog over Xilinhot on Dec 11. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]

A sundog phenomenon in Xiliinhot. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]