Between cinema and trains sessions Pet-Friendly, animals invite themselves everywhere. A phenomenon that makes an already flourishing market jump.
Children discover alpacas aboard a suspended monorail placed on the theme of animals, in Wuhan (Hubei), March 22, 2025.
Last January, the cinema of the Wanda shopping center in Dongba in Beijing reserved a surprise for its customers: a film-cannin session. The opportunity for doggies and their masters to appreciate the film of the dog together and to share a unique experience in front of the big screen. “This is the first time I have been going to the movies with my dog!” Rejoices a young spectator by caressing her four -legged companion.
A trend is in full boom in many cities: animals are increasingly integrated into urban activities, the Pet-Friendly places are multiplying and the pet market flourishes, revealing significant economic potential.
Four -legged shopping
In the Dongba Wanda shopping center was designed to accommodate domestic animals. Stores accepting these private visitors, rays of essential accessories spread over the different floors, elevators dedicated to them … Nothing is left to chance.
The Box shopping center in Beijing is an essential place for animal owners. “It has become our favorite place. You can lunch there, shop and visit exhibitions together, ”shares Lili, owner of a 2 -year -old Pomeranian. To offer a harmonious environment, the establishment has set up a clear regulation: compulsory registration of animals and owners, port of the leash or use of strollers required. On the first floor, a large specialized shop offers everything you need for animal welfare.
In Shanghai, several digital platforms now offer complete guides to go out with your pet. Among them, “two tails” has particularly stood out. This application lists no less than 2,700 city sites that accept animals, according to data stopped at the end of March. Its catalog includes welcoming restaurants, warm cafes, suitable parks and even hotels open to animals.
A dog on the podium during the 4th week’s opening ceremony for pet fashion, in the Shanghai fashion center, March 28, 2025
Transport adapts
For owners, their animal is a real family member, linked by a deep affection. This proximity explains the emergence of the “Pet-Friendly” trend, which reflects the growing desire for owners to include their animals in all daily activities, including travel.
If the car remains the privileged means of transport to travel with its furry companion, long journeys can be trying for animals. An alternative has just been created: since April, China Railway has been offering a pilot service allowing pets to travel aboard certain high-speed trains on the Beijing-Shanghai line.
The Chinese rail system innovates with its very first service dedicated to travel with pets. This initiative, a first in rail transport in the country, has its origin in a large public inquiry carried out last year by China Railway.
China Railway has formalized the conditions: since April 8, each passenger can take a single animal (cat or dog) aboard the same train. However, there are rules to know: the reservation of a place for the animal must be carried out in advance and the animals will be housed in a special car, separated from the passenger seats. In Tao, a young teacher living in Shanghai with her four cats, positively welcomes this initiative, but remains cautious: “It is a good start, however I wonder about the stress that a cat could undergo in a new and closed environment”.
Several Chinese airlines, including Sichuan Airlines and Air Travel, now offer passengers to take their companion to the cabin. An option that allows owners to travel further without separating from their animal.
Nearly 100 dogs and cats saved by animal protection organizations are waiting for a new home for the adoption day of pets in Nanjing (Jiangsu), on November 2, 2024.
A market that has dog (and cat)
It is not always possible to move with your animals. In Tao chooses to leave her fellow feline to friends or calls on home care services-an activity that she has been practicing for almost four years.
Thanks to online platforms dedicated to animal care like Heymao and Maoxiang, it offers different services adapted to the needs of each animal: feeding, litter cleaning, brushing and playing sessions. Each visit, lasting 40 minutes to an hour, is personalized according to the habits of the cat and the instructions of its owner, in order to maintain the animal in a familiar and reassuring environment. “The experience and knowledge of cats are essential. This allows me to better understand their behavior, to communicate more effectively with them, to detect their needs and above all, to analyze their state of health, ”explains Tao.
In addition to home visits that attract an increasing number of owners, the supply of animal services has been considerably diversified. High -end grooming, advanced aesthetic care, personalized guard and specialized pension … The industry is increasingly meeting the requirements of attentive masters.
According to the white paper on the pet industry in China 2025, published last December, the number of dogs and cats in urban areas exceeded 120 million in 2024. The consumption market for animals crossed the 300 billion yuan mark for the same period, including 155.7 billion for dogs and 144.5 billion for cats.
“In addition to the boom in the pet market, mentalities are evolving. Today, the owners pay more attention to the quality of life and the emotional needs of their four -legged companions, ”analyzes Sun Zhongchao, assistant secretary general of the National Alliance for Innovation in the Matteric Health and Food Safety. He added that young people and seniors constitute the heart of this flourishing market and do not hesitate to spend more on their companions. These two groups, increasingly demanding about the quality of animal food, favor a premium diet with organic and nutritious products.
The District of Caxian (Shandong) has established itself as a pole of the pet store, with an impressive concentration of specialized chains, especially in food. In February, an industrial park for the pet store was inaugurated in the pinggu district in Beijing, bringing together companies specializing in food, accessories and medical and aesthetic care. It aims to become an innovation hub for pet economy in China.
According to a report by Iimedia Research, the industry reached 592.8 billion yuan in 2023, displaying solid progression. The forecasts are even more optimistic: the market could reach 1,150 billion yuan by 2028, thus opening up new economic opportunities.
