In the Yangtze River, as it flows through Hubei province in China, a cliff has gained fame on social media and has become the current tourist trend due to its peculiar shape that resembles a dog’s silhouette resting on the waters.
This phenomenon has turned the place into a popular tourist attraction, attracting curious visitors from around the world who seek to take pictures next to this unique natural formation.
Located near the city of Yichang, in Zigui county, this “puppy cliff” can be admired from a viewpoint. Users on social media, upon noticing the resemblance, quickly shared images and comparisons with their own pets. Some have even taken their dogs to the site to capture the moment in a unique photo.
One user wrote on the RedNote platform: “Puppy Mountain, here I am!”, while another reflected: “We all need eyes to see the beauty in this world.” These posts have boosted the popularity of this corner of the Yangtze River, China’s longest river and the third longest in the world.
The magic of pareidolia in tourism
The phenomenon behind this attraction is known as pareidolia, a psychological tendency by which people identify familiar patterns, like faces or shapes, in inanimate objects. This phenomenon is not exclusive to the “puppy cliff,” but appears in various tourist destinations around the world.
For example, in Andalusia, Spain, you can find the Peña de los Enamorados, a hill that, from the right angle, seems to show the face of a reclining man. In France, the Ebihens archipelago offers the profile of a complete face with a nose, lips, and a green mane when viewed from a specific perspective.
Other fascinating examples include the Swedish island of Gotland, where a limestone formation called Hoburgsgubben (the “Old Man of Hoburgen”) resembles a human face with a prominent nose. In Northern Ireland, the Cavehill hills near Belfast reveal several silhouettes, including the famous “Napoleon’s Nose”.
A destination that combines nature and creativity
The “puppy cliff” of the Yangtze River not only highlights the beauty of the Chinese natural environment, but also the human imagination to find patterns and meanings in landscapes.
This tourist trend reinforces how natural wonders, combined with creativity, can become viral icons.
Cover photo: Guo Qingshan via AP
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