An unexpected landmark on the edge of the Yangtze River has captured the imagination of the public in China, thanks to a post by a Shanghai-based designer who likened it to a dog.
Guo Qingshan, the photographer, titled his image “Puppy Mountain,” taken during a hike near Yichang, Hubei province in late January.
Upon reviewing his photos, Guo noticed something he had previously missed: a mountain formation resembling a dog’s head, with its snout at the water’s edge.
“It was so magical and cute. I was overjoyed when I discovered it,” Guo expressed. “The puppy’s posture suggests it’s drinking water, looking at fish, or quietly guarding the Yangtze River.”
Guo’s post has garnered significant attention on social media, with over 120,000 likes on Xiaohongshu (RedNote) and millions of views under the hashtag #xiaogoushan (“puppy mountain”) on Weibo.
The phenomenon has inspired dog owners to share photos of their pets for comparison, with many visiting the site to see the mountain and capture moments with their dogs.
Zhang Yali poses with her dog Little Cotton near the now-famous Puppy Mountain. Photograph: Tan Yuanyi/AP
Social media users have flocked to share their experiences, with one expressing, “Puppy Mountain here I am!” along with photos, suggesting, “Just stroke the puppy’s head and then everything will be OK.” Another wrote, “We all need the eyes to see the beauty in this world.
Yang Yang, living an hour and a half from the site, visited with her friends and her 2-year-old grey poodle, Yang Keyi. “I was really happy to see the mountain,” she shared. “I always travel with my dog, so Puppy Mountain and my dog felt like a match.”
The mountain is located in Yichang’s Zigui county, visible from an observation deck.
Following Guo’s viral photo, many shared their own views taken from the deck, many admitting they had not previously noticed the resemblance to a dog, with discussions popping up about how the landmark’s appearance has changed over the years.
Shi Tong, a Yichang resident, recognized the mountain from a 2021 photo he took, realizing after seeing the viral picture that he had indeed noticed the dog-like shape before. “After I saw the Puppy Mountain photo online, I tried to locate it. Then I realized I have been to this place before. I thought it looked like a dog at that time, too.”
