China conducted missile defense tests in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on January 27, possibly creating a light show of rings and halos that was captured and circulated online. This photo above was taken around 8pm, which netizens explain shone brightly in the center and looked like a cloud of moisture. The light then changed quickly and the green light had a laser-like intensity. Photos: Wengzailvtu/Qingjiaowoliuhetongxue

China conducted missile defense tests in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on January 27, possibly creating a light show of rings and halos that was captured and circulated online. This photo above was taken around 8pm, which netizens explain shone brightly in the center and looked like a cloud of moisture. The light then changed quickly and the green light had a laser-like intensity.Photos: Wengzailvtu/Qingjiaowoliuhetongxue

Satellite image maps the course of the missile defense test. The intersecting red and yellow lines indicate where a missile was intercepted.Photos: Wengzailvtu/Qingjiaowoliuhetongxue

Lights captured by Weibo users during missile tests  Photos: Ruguohaiyoumingtian

A screenshot of video taken during missile tests captured by Weibo users

China again carried out a land-based mid-course missile interception test within its territory Sunday.

Xinhua learned the news from the Information Bureau of China's Defense Ministry.

"The test has reached the preset goal," an official with the bureau said.

"The test is defensive in nature and targets no other country," he said.

It has been the second time that China announced such kind of missile test. A similar anti-missile interception test was successfully conducted on January 11, 2010.

Although no other detailed information about the test was released from the military authorities, weapon system experts said such test could build shield for China's air defense by intercepting incoming warheads such as ballistic missiles in space.