
The good thing about being out in the woods when nature calls is that, short of letting rip on a nest of angry fire ants, nature usually doesn’t mind where you go.
It’s probably a good idea not to take a bathroom break while dressed like a creature from The Lord of the Rings, though, or chances are you’ll scare the life out of passing tourists and end up with photos of your peeing self all over the internet.
Shared earlier this month by Chinese net users, the photos depict what was described as a hairless “monster” spotted in the hills of the Huariou District near Beijing.

People quickly compared the creature to Gollum, the infamous ring-obsessed being from J. R. R. Tolkien’s popular high fantasy series, due to its gangly figure and large, flopping ears.
Soon after the images went viral, however, an unnamed science-fiction actor reportedly came forward to say that the creature in the photos was in fact just him going number-one.
“Over the week I and my friends went to the mountains to take a mini sci-film [sic] film,” Metro reports the man as saying. “When I was having a pee a person popped up and took pictures of me and shot away.”
Mystery solved, monster hunters!
If you ask me, though, even this explanation smells a bit fishy. Reports suggest that this is a male actor we see in the photos, so whether he’s wearing a loincloth and a mask or not, one has to wonder why he’d squat down to pee (hands-free, no less) on a hard rock that pretty much guarantees splash-back and run-off issues. After all, as most men would no doubt agree, there are few greater pleasures in life than relieving oneself against a nice, mossy tree or thick bush while outdoors. Perhaps he was going number two and just didn’t want to admit it? Maybe, but I see no toilet paper in hand, and nature or no, only a true beast forgets to wipe.
Maybe it was Gollum after all…
Source: Byoukan Sunday, Metro
Feature image: Wikipedia – CyberGhostface

New Mt. Fuji overnight bus takes travelers from downtown Tokyo straight to the most popular hiking trail
7-Eleven Japan now has Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, but how do they taste?[Taste test]
Tokyo revises accommodation tax amidst tourism boom, Airbnb rentals now included
A visit to Sri Lanka’s knockoff knockoff Uniqlo (no, we didn’t stutter) to see its rare “Pikachus”
Yoshinoya and Dragon Quest slaying scalpers with shift to made-to-order collaboration merch
New Mt. Fuji overnight bus takes travelers from downtown Tokyo straight to the most popular hiking trail
7-Eleven Japan now has Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, but how do they taste?[Taste test]
Tokyo revises accommodation tax amidst tourism boom, Airbnb rentals now included
A visit to Sri Lanka’s knockoff knockoff Uniqlo (no, we didn’t stutter) to see its rare “Pikachus”
Yoshinoya and Dragon Quest slaying scalpers with shift to made-to-order collaboration merch
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan moves to enforce language requirements for foreign nationals seeking permanent residency
Famous sweets store in Ameyoko fills a bag with sweets and a show, but is it still worth it?
7-Eleven Japan releases chocolate cookies that taste like freshly baked melon bread
Japan to get new high-speed train connecting Haneda and Narita airports, ease overtourism
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
Japanese overnight sightseeing train returns for summer with ramen stops and ocean views
Sanrio Character Poll announces winners, Hello Kitty absent from top 10 in many countries
Starbucks Japan teams up with Converse Tokyo for a new limited-edition collection in honour of Tanabata
Don’t judge this Kiki’s Delivery Service book by its cover, because it’s not actually a book!
The quest for Dragon Quest Yoshinoya figure sets: Worth taking for fans, tricky for scalpers[Pics]
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
New Japanese overnight train coming to connect Tokyo with Tohoku in sleep-travel style
Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer
Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon
Forget Tokyo go-karts – there’s a new way to sightsee on four wheels in Japan
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan moves to enforce language requirements for foreign nationals seeking permanent residency
Famous sweets store in Ameyoko fills a bag with sweets and a show, but is it still worth it?
7-Eleven Japan releases chocolate cookies that taste like freshly baked melon bread
Japan to get new high-speed train connecting Haneda and Narita airports, ease overtourism
Climbing season officially opens for Japan’s Mt. Hiyoriyama, the shortest mountain in the country
Foreign tourists injured in Nissan GT-R crash near Tokyo’s Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Tochigi man shares his family’s process for creating 16 years worth of rice paddy art
Potato-Chip-Flavored Dressing coming to stores in Japan
Don’t judge this Kiki’s Delivery Service book by its cover, because it’s not actually a book!
Starbucks Japan teams up with Converse Tokyo for a new limited-edition collection in honour of Tanabata
Tokyo’s giant Pokémon Stamp Rally is back for 2026 with exclusive prizes up for grabs
Japan announces plans for twenty-fold increase in permanent residency fees, alongside higher visa costs