A Unique Landmark By China's Yangtze River Is A Tourist Magnet Worth The Social Media Hype

When Chinese designer Guo Qingshan snapped a picture of his hometown in early 2025, he had no idea he would become an Internet sensation. In theory, the landscape shows a cliff on the edge of the Yangtze River. The water is steel-blue, and steep slopes rise upward, toward a hazy sky. This is a common sight around Yichang, a city in central China near the well-known Three Gorges Dam. These kinds of mountainous vistas make China one of the world's most-visited countries you should add to your bucket list.

But the photo isn't just a landscape, and you'll immediately see why Instagrammers lost their minds over this picture: the rock formation looks like the face of a sleeping puppy. The resemblance is uncanny, and it almost looks photoshopped. The snout rests on the shore. A curving cave looks like a closed eye. The patches of trees and bushes could pass for fur. Even the gentle slope above mimics the outline of a dog's head. The photo went viral on Red Note, a popular social media platform in China, garnering millions of views. Westerners soon caught on, and "Puppy Mountain" took Instagram by storm. Feel-good reports of the photo popped up on news sites around the world, causing legions of readers to melt before their screens and say, "Awwwww..."

Guo lives in Shanghai, but he grew up in Yichang. He took the photo while hiking along Yangtze's scenic cliffs. "It was so magical and cute," Guo told the Associated Press. "I was so excited and happy when I discovered it." More than just a pretty snapshot, Guo had drawn attention to Hubei Province, where the legendary Yangtze River is most scenic.

The Yangtze River is one of the most important natural features in China. Spanning nearly 4,000 miles, the Yangtze is both the longest river in Asia and second-longest in the world. The Three Gorges have become an iconic landscape in China, where boats and barges appear tiny as they chug between forested rock walls. It's hard to take a bad picture here — although only one of these dynamic outcroppings happens to resemble a puppy.

For years, travelers have taken boats down the river, and cruising is now a popular way to take in views. This segment stretches over 100 miles through mountainous countryside; cruise ships routinely stop at the ancient stronghold of White Emperor City, with its historic architecture and decorative poems, as well as the Tribe of Three Gorges, a photogenic riverside village. At an established scenic point, the "Shadow Play Stone" is an otherworldly rock formation that seems to levitate above a ridge. Like the bucket list-worthy bamboo cruises on China's Li River, the river itself is calm and the surrounding terrain is positively mythic.

The exact location of Puppy Mountain is difficult to pinpoint; the nickname in pinyin is "Xiaogoushan," but that's not an official reference point, and Google Maps is notoriously undependable when it comes to Chinese geography, largely owing to the "Great Firewall." Your best clue is that Puppy Mountain is located in Zigui County, about an hour northwest of Yichang. Guo reportedly took the photo from an observation deck.

Hubei Province has endured a lot of bad press in recent years: the Three Gorges Dam is the largest hydroelectric power generator ever built, and its expensive construction has drawn much criticism from environmentalists. The city of Wuhan is also located in Hubei, where most scientists agree the COVID-19 virus first originated. The associated headlines aren't flattering, and many foreigners might opt for more popular destinations, like Beijing or Shanghai.

This might be a boon for indie travelers. The tourism infrastructure is well-established here, and the region remains popular with Chinese tourists; more than 3 million people visited the Three Gorges Dam in 2024. At the same time, the region isn't overrun with westerners, so you can vacation in a place that's beloved by actual residents and avoid the tourist traps of better known locations. Avid photographers can easily follow in Guo's footsteps, given all the picturesque topography.

Meanwhile, the local cuisine is famous for its freshwater fish, pork dishes, and rich stews, so you can expect a hearty meal at the end of each day. Accommodations are also plentiful in Yichang and nearby cities; a room rarely costs more than $50 per night. This area is definitely off the beaten path; the closest international airport is in Shanghai Pudong International, and the high-speed train takes between 7 and 8 hours to Yichang. Planning your first visit to the "Middle Kingdom"? Here's what to know before traveling to China.