A mild earthquake measuring 3.9 in magnitude shook North Hollywood, with tremors felt throughout Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, in China, a single vacation photo has transformed an ordinary mountain into an internet sensation. On Valentine’s Day, Shanghai-based designer Guo Qingshan shared an image from his trip, playfully calling it “Puppy Mountain.” The post quickly gained traction across China and unexpectedly turned the location into a popular tourist spot.
Guo had taken the photo in late January while hiking in his hometown of Yichang, located in Hubei province, central China. It wasn’t until he reviewed his pictures later that he noticed something striking—one of the mountains resembled a dog’s head, its snout appearing to touch the Yangtze River.
“It felt so magical and adorable. I was thrilled when I made the discovery,” Guo recalled.
In the photo, taken on January 20, 2025, and later released by Guo, the mountain’s silhouette appears to be in a gentle pose, as if it’s either drinking from the river or gazing at fish beneath the surface. “It also gives the impression of quietly watching over the Yangtze,” he added.
Guo’s post on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu (RedNote) quickly gained popularity, amassing 120,000 likes in just ten days. On Weibo, the hashtag #xiaogoushan, which translates to “Puppy Mountain,” attracted millions of views.
Dog lovers joined in on the excitement, sharing pictures of their own pets in an attempt to find the closest resemblance to the mountain. Inspired by the viral post, many travelers made their way to Yichang to witness the natural phenomenon firsthand, some even bringing their dogs along for a photo opportunity.
One enthusiastic social media user shared a picture of the mountain, writing, “Puppy Mountain, here I come! Just pat the puppy’s head, and everything will be alright.” Another commented, “Sometimes, all we need is the right perspective to see the beauty in this world.”
Yang Yang, a resident living about 90 minutes from the site, made the trip with her friends and her two-year-old grey poodle, Yang Keyi.
“I was overjoyed to see the mountain in person,” she said. “Whenever I can, I love traveling with my dog, so this felt like the perfect adventure.”
The mountain, located in Yichang’s Zigui County, can be admired from a viewing platform overlooking the Yangtze River—the longest river in China and the third-longest in the world.
Following the photo’s viral spread, numerous people revisited their old pictures from the same observation deck, realizing they had unknowingly captured the mountain’s canine-like shape before. Some even noted how its appearance seemed to have subtly changed over time.
Shi Tong, a Yichang local, recognized the formation and shared a picture he had taken back in 2021.
“After seeing the viral Puppy Mountain post, I tried to figure out where it was,” he said. “That’s when I realized I had already been there! Even back then, I thought it looked just like a dog.”