The dog even has its own Sina Weibo account—“GOGO Xiaosa.”
“This dog was encountered by netizens while cycling from Chengdu to Lhasa, and it followed the cycling group all the way, covering nearly 2,000 kilometers...” Yesterday, this Weibo post turned a stray dog running along National Highway 318 into an idol for many. “I must salute it—this is true freedom, with no DSLR, no backpack, just a heart that says ‘let’s go.’”...
On the 22nd, reporters contacted the netizen traveling with the dog, “Qi Ji,” who said the cycling group is expected to arrive in Tibet tomorrow. “It’s now called ‘Xiaosa,’ after Lhasa’s ‘Sa.’ I will definitely take it to Tibet!”
Account
They met it resting at the tunnel entrance in Yajiang
“Its name is Xiaosa, after Lhasa’s ‘Sa,’” said “Qi Ji.” He and his friends encountered the dog around 6 p.m. on May 3. “We met it in Yajiang County. We were about to cycle through a tunnel in Yajiang when we spotted it at the tunnel entrance. We don’t know if it was tired from running or had an injured foot, but it was resting at the tunnel entrance. We got off our bikes and fed it some food. Unexpectedly, after eating, it started following us and kept up all the way to the hotel.” “Actually, we only thought of keeping it for one night,” said “Qi Ji.” The next day, they deliberately left without it seeing them and quietly departed the hotel. “But it followed the caravan behind us and caught up. The moment it saw me, it just chased after my bike, as if we had some special connection,” “Qi Ji” said with a laugh. “After that, we traveled together. Since our destination was Lhasa, we initially called the dog Lhasa, and later just called it Xiaosa.” Now, the dog even has its own Sina Weibo account—“GOGO Xiaosa.”
Formidable
All mountains above 4,000 meters have been conquered by it
Along the Sichuan-Tibet section of National Highway 318, hikers, drivers, and cyclists entering Tibet via this route have more or less heard of this “march toward Lhasa” stray dog. “Qi Ji” spoke highly of Xiaosa: “It’s amazing—it can run 50 to 60 kilometers a day, all uphill, no matter the road conditions, and does it all alone. So far, of the 12 mountains above 4,000 meters along the route, except for Mila Mountain, it has successfully conquered them all. And we will be tackling the last one, Mila Mountain, which is over 5,000 meters high, on the 24th.”
In “Qi Ji’s” eyes, Xiaosa is not only tenacious but also very understanding. “Sometimes it runs up a slope too fast and reaches the pass before us, and it will quietly wait for us there. Sometimes it runs too far and can’t see us, and it will even turn back to look for us.”
The Future
It will take a photo in front of the Potala Palace when it arrives in Lhasa tomorrow
The story of the stray dog Xiaosa has touched many netizens, and its future is equally a concern for millions. “Qi Ji” said: “I will definitely take it to Lhasa. We will take a commemorative photo in front of the Potala Palace, and then take it to explore Lhasa.”
But “Qi Ji” himself hasn’t decided what kind of future to give Xiaosa. “Once, a hotel owner along the way wanted to keep Xiaosa, but my friend and I had already decided to take it to Lhasa, so we refused. We should reach Lhasa on the 24th, but where should Xiaosa go after that?” “Qi Ji” said he has thought about taking it back to Wuhan, leaving it in Lhasa, or even posting on Weibo to find a new owner willing to continue the journey with it. “We’ll decide when we get to Lhasa,” was ultimately the only vague answer “Qi Ji” gave us.
The stray dog Xiaosa: A symbol of ideals and perseverance
Animals that become celebrities actually reflect people’s idealized projections, a transfer of our expectations for reality.
“Pig Strong” became famous nationwide because it survived being buried under the rubble of the Wenchuan earthquake for 36 days. To put it realistically, it’s just a pig—perhaps one with thicker subcutaneous fat and a strong survival instinct. But during that period, it fulfilled people’s hope of overcoming disaster. In a sense, it symbolizes “man can conquer nature.” Thus, “Pig Strong” became a motivational star in the animal kingdom.
“Cat Uncle” became an internet sensation across Asia starting in 2010, thanks to this chubby cat from the Japanese countryside. Unlike “Pig Strong,” “Cat Uncle” doesn’t have a sentimental backstory—it belongs to another major category of animal celebrities—the cute type. Its big, round face, calm expression, and absurd poses are all stress relievers. Liking “Cat Uncle” doesn’t require pondering life’s meaning—just a light laugh.
For this traveling dog, some interpret it as a “dog with great ideals,” others see it as a “dog with unyielding will.” But in truth, Xiaosa is just a dog. It doesn’t know Lhasa—if it has any ideals, it might just be to have a full meal.
The stray dog Xiaosa has become a hero who inspires us, but in reality, it’s because we desperately need ideals and perseverance.