As the Year of the Snake approaches, pet owners across China are pulling out all the stops to include their furry companions in the grand celebrations of Chinese New Year.
Wu Jing, a pet owner in Hefei City, Anhui Province, exemplifies this trend by treating her dog to a stylish new outfit and a special New Year's Eve feast. \"I treated my dog to an extra big chicken leg and a can of expensive dog food for his New Year's Eve dinner,\" Wu shared with China Media Group. \"After all, he's part of the family. I hope everyone, including him, can be happy.\"
Like Wu, millions of Chinese pet owners are finding creative ways to make their pets stars of the festivities. RedNote, known internationally as Xiaohongshu, has launched a heartwarming campaign titled \"Pets Celebrate the Chinese New Year Too.\" Under the slogan \"More Than Pets, They Are Family: Celebrate an Auspicious Year Together,\" the platform invites users to share how they honor their pets during the holiday. From adorable costumes to festive treats, the response has been overwhelming.
According to CGTN, a search on RedNote for the campaign hashtag revealed over 2 million posts. Pet owners are sharing everything from long-distance drives to hometowns to transformation photos of their pets dressed in festive attire or enjoying muddy playtime in the fields.
The booming pet industry is embracing this trend with innovative products and services. Special New Year's Eve dinners featuring dishes like Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, abalone rice, and Wellington steaks are trending on Chinese e-commerce platforms. Regions such as Shanghai, Beijing, Xinjiang, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu lead in generous spending on these pet-centric celebrations.
Sun Liming, head of the pet industry at Taobao, highlighted the surge in demand: \"Data shows that sales of New Year's Eve dinners for cats are 2.34 times those of dog dinners, even though dog dinners are priced 12 yuan higher on average.\"
To keep up with consumer enthusiasm, pet stores are stocking a variety of festive products, including gourmet dinners, lucky snacks, New Year clothes, and toys. Zhang, a pet store manager, noted, \"These products are selling exceptionally well, especially the New Year's Eve packages for pets. Most buyers are young office workers and consumers born after 1990, who focus more on their pets' quality of life and are willing to spend more on them.\"
This shift towards inclusive celebrations reflects a broader trend of pets being treated as integral family members, reshaping holiday traditions and spending habits across China.
Reference(s):
Pets stealing the show: How furry friends celebrate Chinese New Year
cgtn.com
