Puppy Mountain photo captivates millions in China
- Guo Qingshan posted a photo of a mountain resembling a dog next to the Yangtze River, which gained widespread popularity.
- The post received an overwhelming amount of likes and sparked a trend of dog owners sharing pictures of their pets.
- The mountain became a tourist destination after the photo went viral, illustrating the influence of social media on travel interest.
On Valentine's Day, a Shanghai-based designer named Guo Qingshan shared a vacation photo on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, declaring the mountain next to the Yangtze River as 'Puppy Mountain.' The mountain's shape strikingly resembles that of a dog, with its head resting on the ground, snout at the water's edge, creating a whimsical image. What Guo hadn't noticed before was how much the mountain's posture appeared like a puppy drinking water or gazing at fish, which added a protective aura over the river. In just ten days, Guo's post accumulated 120,000 likes, leading to an increase in visitors to the mountain's location in Yichang, Hubei Province. The hashtag #xiaogoushan quickly gained traction on Weibo, with millions of views as dog owners began comparing their pets to the mountainside. This phenomenon sparked a wave of interest, drawing both locals and tourists alike to witness the sight for themselves. As the excitement grew, social media users shared their feelings about the beauty of the discovery. It encouraged many to travel to Yichang to view the unique mountain and some even brought their dogs to capture memorable photographs in front of Puppy Mountain. Yang Yang, a local resident, expressed her joy after visiting the site with friends and her poodle, Yang Keyi, emphasizing how 'happy to see the mountain' she felt. Previously, many visitors to Yichang had viewed the mountain but had not realized what it resembled until the viral photo brought it to attention. This awakened recognition among residents, like Shi Tong, who shared that he had seen the mountain before and thought it resembled a dog back in 2021. The renewed awareness illustrates how social media can revitalize interest in places that may have been overlooked. The mountain is located in Zigui County, from where an observation deck provides stunning views of both Puppy Mountain and the Yangtze River. This scenic region, known for its natural beauty, has not only attracted local residents but also tourists eager to see what has now taken on a life of its own in the online realm. The combination of natural landscapes and social media has birthed a new tourist destination, emphasizing the power of social media in transforming local sites into popular attractions.