Nature has a funny way of playing tricks on our eyes. Sometimes, a cloud looks like a dragon, a rock formation resembles a face, or in this case—a mountain takes the shape of a puppy bowed to drink water. Nestled by the Yangtze River in Yichang’s Zigui County, Hubei Province, a mountain has become an unexpected tourist hotspot after a viral photo showcased its uncanny resemblance to a curled-up dog. Now, visitors are flocking to see if they, too, can spot the snoozing pup hidden in the landscape.
Shanghai-based designer Guo Qingshan had no idea his snapshot would spark such a buzz when he shared it on Valentine’s Day, dubbing the landscape “Puppy Mountain.”Guo, who had been hiking near his hometown in late January, only spotted the unusual shape of the mountain when looking back at his photos. To his surprise, the formation looked strikingly like a dog resting on the ground, its snout almost touching the Yangtze River as if it were about to take a drink.
“It was so magical and cute. I was so excited and happy when I discovered it,” Guo told the Associated Press(AP). The image captured people’s imaginations, with some seeing the mountain as a peaceful guardian of the river, while others thought it resembled a puppy gazing curiously at the water.
The post, originally shared on Xiaohongshu (RedNote), quickly gained traction, amassing 120,000 likes in just 10 days. The trend spread to Weibo, where the hashtag #xiaogoushan (which translates to “Puppy Mountain“) racked up millions of views.
As excitement grew, social media users began posting photos of their own dogs to compare them to the mountain’s shape. The buzz even prompted people to visit Yichang’s Zigui County, where the mountain is visible from a local observation deck. Some visitors even brought their dogs along for pictures, making for an adorable side-by-side comparison.
AP reported, one visitor, Yang Yang, traveled over an hour and a half with friends and her 2-year-old grey poodle, Yang Keyi, just to see the landmark in person. “I was really happy to see the mountain,” she said, adding that the trip was extra special because she loves traveling with her dog.
The Yangtze River, which runs through the region, is China’s longest river and the third-longest in the world. Interestingly, Guo’s discovery led many people to revisit their old photos. Several Yichang locals realized they had unknowingly captured the mountain before, but never noticed its unique shape.
One resident, Shi Tong, recognized the location immediately. “After I saw the Puppy Mountain photo online, I tried to figure out where it was. Then I realized I had actually been there before. I thought it looked like a dog back then too!” he shared.
