The Grass Mud Horse (Cǎonímǎ) originated in 2009 on the Baidu Baike forums as a satirical protest against internet censorship in China. It is the most famous of the 'Baidu 10 Mythical Creatures,' a collection of fictional animals whose names are clever puns on Mandarin profanities. While the creature is visually represented as an alpaca, its name sounds nearly identical to a vulgar insult. This linguistic loophole allowed netizens to bypass automated keyword filters while mocking government restrictions. Over time, the Grass Mud Horse became a global symbol of creative resistance and internet freedom, often depicted in its mythical habitat, the Mahler Desert, fighting against the 'River Crab'—a pun for government censorship.