A dramatic twister was filmed wreaking havoc across a Western movie set.
The towering column of swirling dust swept across the film studio during a period of high temperatures.
Visitors ran for cover as the spinning vortex churned up the ground around their feet.
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Witnesses reported being blinded by the force of the wind, with one visitor saying: “I can’t even open my eyes.”
The footage quickly spread online, with some describing it as a “tornado attack”.
The phenomenon engulfed the outdoor set of the Zhenbeipu Western Film Studio, better known as the China Western Film Studio, in Yinchuan, China, on Thursday (23 Apr).
The set, which is located in the country’s arid north, has provided the backdrop for over 100 films, including the cult classic A Chinese Odyssey.
Studio officials confirmed the park remained open to the public with ticket operations unaffected.
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They clarified that it was not a tornado but a dust devil – a smaller, short-lived whirlwind common in the region during the spring-to-summer transition.
They also stated that the gust was brief and caused no damage.
A spokesperson said: “The scenic area was not affected.
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“It is open as normal, the ticket price is £8.70 (CNY 80), and the weather has been good these past two days.”
A nearby restaurant owner confirmed the whirlwind “was not serious” and “disappeared after a short while” with the business unaffected.
Officials said small whirlwinds frequently form in the area because of the large temperature differences and dusty conditions, but they do not qualify as tornadoes or natural disasters.
Dust devils are small, rotating columns of air made visible by the dust and debris they kick up from the ground.
Unlike tornadoes, which grow downward from storm clouds, dust devils form on clear hot days.
They occur when intense sunlight heats a localised patch of earth, warming the air directly above it.
This hot air rises rapidly through the cooler air above, creating an updraft that begins to spin.
While usually harmless and brief, they can occasionally reach heights of 1,000 feet, as reported by What’s The Jam.
No injuries have been reported, and the studio remains fully open to visitors and film crews.
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