BEIJING - The Chinese Internet is abuzz over what many believe to be an inconspicuous illustration of three cartoon cats on the 100-yuan ($16) note, though officials from the central bank claim people's imaginations are getting the better of them.

Earlier this week, an online post said there is a design of three cartoon cats on the 100-yuan note beside the portrait of Chairman Mao Zedong.

The post soon became a hot Internet topic. By Wednesday, 28,000 related comments had already been posted on Sina Weibo, a popular Chinese micro-blogging service.

China has published five series of RMB since 1948. The currently circulated RMB note, which includes denominations up to 100 yuan, was put into use in 1999.

If you rotate the 100-yuan bill 90 degrees, you will find the cat-like prints next to Mao Zedong's portrait, according to the post.

"It indeed looks like three cats, one standing in the middle, the other two kneeling on both sides. That is funny. How is it that I have never noticed before?" said Liu Chen, 26, from Beijing.

An online post has claimed there are three cartoon cats on the 100-yuan note, but China's central bank denies this and says the prints are based on ancient lacquerware. Zhu Xingxin / China Daily