DF-5C missile-shaped pillows are on sale at Ditan Park in Beijing, capital of China, on September 18, 2025. Photo: Zhang Han/GT

 The DF-5C liquid-fueled intercontinental strategic nuclear missile quickly won praise online, with netizens expressing enthusiasm and various sectors launching themed merchandise — including snacks, pillows, and more — following its debut at China's V-Day military parade on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

A young man sells DF-5C missile-shaped flatbreads in Zhengzhou, Central China's Henan Province. Photo: Screenshot from CCTV News

In Zhengzhou, Central China's Henan Province, a young entrepreneur gained internet fame for selling DF-5C-shaped baked flatbreads. Social media users jokingly remarked that the "DF-5C flatbread has taken the internet by storm." China Central Television reported on Friday that the trend highlighted the public's fascination with the missile.

A WeChat blogger known as "Shifeng Zatan," who described himself as a 20-year military enthusiast, wrote that the DF-5C has become "a mascot for ordinary people." He shared images, including one showing traffic police stopping a car that had placed a DF-5C model on its roof, underscoring how much the public had embraced the symbol. 

Fans of handicrafts also created crochet tutorials teaching people how to knit yarn models of the DF-5C, complete with step-by-step instructions and photos. On China's lifestyle-sharing social media platform Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, many users posted photos of their DF-5C-themed pillows, calling them "the most reassuring cushions."

Global Times reporters observed that DF-5C-themed merchandise has also appeared on e-commerce platforms, including phone charms, car ornaments, and desk lamps. Among these, pillows proved the most popular, with one online store recording over 20,000 views for the product.

One customer explained that after watching the parade, his young son became so fond of the DF-5C that he decided to buy him the themed pillow.

Global Times