When you look up at the clouds, what do you see? A lamb, a castle perhaps? For many people in Beijing last week, the answer was a “fiery phoenix”, one of China’s mythological animals.

But seeing is just the half of it. For those not familiar with the significance of certain symbolic omens and divine signs in China, according to a report in the People’s Daily Online, the “phoenix cloud” means that China is doing great as a country:

Ancient people believed that when peace and prosperity was achieved, a phoenix would appear in the sky… Quick, make a wish!

Notwithstanding the cloud’s resemblance to a phoenix, some netizens took offence to the report, and criticized the People’s Daily Online for using superstition to toe the Party line:

超爱伶俐：
Here’s my criticism: the media is blowing this way out of proportion. People’s Daily wrote, “As it is said, ancient people thought that when peace and prosperity was achieved, a phoenix would appear.” Darn it, are you raising feudal superstitions? Tomorrow, you may see a dead fish by the side of the lake! Quickly, take a look and you’ll see that there is a note inside the belly of the fish upon which is written: death to the entire family of those who kiss ass.

曼联队主教练纪然：
If anyone else had said so I’d just as soon forget about it, but for the majestic People’s Daily Online to say with one breath that this is an auspicious day–what is the meaning of this? Do you believe in feudal superstitions?

One commentator lacked as much subtlety as the People’s Daily Online:

jyuroku茶：
Hahaha! This is the ironclad evidence to prove People’s Daily Online are wumaos!

Some netizens pointed out that Beijing is usually under the influence of another kind of atmospheric phenomenon:

钱都不够花：
The smog is too formidable [stiflelaugh.emoji]

大连电台财经广播闽丰：
Can you tell me, People’s Daily Online, what does this smog represent?

Some people took People’s Daily Online at their word:

Latin衣凡：
Wishing Party officials a long life.

周泽律师：
Does this really signify a flourishing age of prosperity?

While others knew exactly who to thank for the blessed event:

特仑苏有点_咸：
Ever since Uncle Xi (Jinping) took office, good things have happened in succession [heart.emoji]

沸沸_32319：
Is this the Will of Heaven as seen through the anti-corruption efforts of Uncle Xi?

Cynicism aside, the appearance of a cloud that looks like a fiery phoenix was emotionally-gripping for some commentators:

娜娜老茶客：
Mysterious! During the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, I had also taken a picture of a cloud that looked a lot like a phoenix [floatingcloud.emoji]. At the time, I was too scared to tell anyone about it, it blew my mind. [gatheraround.emoji]

古玩鉴藏_孙理通：
[prayinghands.emoji]

Others took the opportunity to make a wish, just as People’s Daily Online suggested:

面朝漠北啃乔乔：
Wishing the whole family luck and good health. [letsgo.emoji]

What could such a sign mean? How should humanity interpret the Phoenix cloud? One commentator tells us one thing that can be known for sure:

励精图治的大农场主：
Any (girl) born on this day will be called “Such-and-such Phoenix”

Photos: People’s Daily Online, Weibo (1, 2, 3, 4)