Residents of Changzhou in Jiangsu province, China, observed an intense pink and red sky during the morning of August 31, 2026. ^[1] On August 31, the sky over Changzhou, China, turned a vibrant pink color, surprising local residents who shared images on social media. ^[2] Shortly after the pink sky appeared, the region was hit by a strong storm accompanied by heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds. ^[3] The pink sky phenomenon was caused by artificial light from fishing boats or greenhouses reflecting off clouds and mist. ^[4] Geologist Sergio Almazán explained that the phenomenon was caused by Rayleigh scattering, where sunlight travels a longer path through the atmosphere near the horizon. ^[5] High humidity and water droplets from the approaching storm modified the light dispersion and reflection in clouds, intensifying the red and pink tones. ^[6] The sky turned from pink to red in approximately two minutes and remained visible for about seven to eight minutes before the storm. ^[7] Some followers of social media expressed that the videos were made with AI, but the phenomenon was confirmed as natural. ^[8]