The appearance of a cloud resembling a fish—identical down to the smallest details—has surprised many, with some even feeling that the photos are edited. This phenomenon has drawn comparisons to the image of “the koi fish soaring into the sky,” a popular theme in Eastern culture. So, how can we interpret the presence of this “red koi fish” in the sky?
If you often look up, you might occasionally see strange phenomena in the sky and perhaps capture images of unique clouds.
Recently, a cloud shaped exactly like a fish, complete with fins and a tail, appeared in the sky over Fuzhou (the capital city of Fujian Province, China). The cloud, in shades of orange and red with highlights and shadows resembling shimmering fish scales, prompted observers to call it “the red koi fish.”
A beautiful cloud resembling a fish in Fujian, China. (Photo: Yangyubin).
Many people were impressed by this unusual cloud, as the image of “the koi fish ascending to the sky” is often associated with the tale of “the koi fish transforming into a dragon,” which remains popular in the folklore of Asian countries like China and Vietnam. In Vietnam, as the Lunar New Year approaches, people often envision “the Kitchen Gods riding koi fish to the heavens.”
So, why did this red koi-shaped cloud appear?
The orange-red color of the cloud at sunset is due to light scattering, with the longest wavelengths of light (red and orange) reaching the observer’s eyes. The fish shape is a coincidence, as clouds can randomly take on any form.
Red rose-shaped clouds in Bursa, Turkey, on a morning early last year. (Photo: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images).
Early last year, a giant white cloud shaped like a fish appeared in the sky over Wuyi (in Zhejiang Province, China), clearly showcasing its fins. The phenomenon of “fish fins” in the sky often arises from numerous cumulus or stratocumulus clouds that create a wavy pattern resembling fish fins, which is sometimes referred to as “mackerel sky,” according to the UK Met Office.
This is a video of the “giant fish” in the sky over Zhejiang (China):
In the folklore of many Asian countries, the image of the koi fish is associated with success, peace, and prosperity. Therefore, witnessing a koi-shaped cloud during exam periods or at the transition from the old year to the new year is always considered a good omen. In August of this year, red koi-shaped clouds were also spotted in the sky over Thai Binh province in Vietnam.
