"Dogs Living More Luxuriously Than People"... Even $4,120 Fitness Centers Emerge in China [China.zip]

Over 120 Million Pets in China

Market Size Surpasses KRW 63 Trillion

Expansion Across Food, Fitness, and Travel Sectors

Editor's NoteThis is a serialized feature that 'unzips' and delivers only the most essential and interesting stories about the vast and complex realms of China's economy, society, and culture.

Amid declining marriage and birth rates in China, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of young people who view animals such as dogs and cats they live with as "family," spurring rapid growth in the pet market. Last year, the number of pets in China surpassed 120 million, with the annual pet consumer market also soaring past 30 billion yuan, reflecting steep expansion.

On September 15, China’s China National Radio cited the 2026 China Pet Industry White Paper, reporting that last year the number of pets reached approximately 126 million (including 53.43 million pet dogs and 72.89 million pet cats), up 1.8% (2.21 million animals) from the previous year. The annual consumer market last year increased 4.1% year-on-year to 312.6 billion yuan (about KRW 63.7422 trillion), and is projected to reach 405 billion yuan (about KRW 82.5835 trillion) by 2028.

A dog enjoying a New Year's dinner. Baidu.

Pet-exclusive Dinners, Kindergartens, and Fitness Centers Emerge

A dog enjoying a New Year's dinner. Baidu.

Animal-exclusive food released for the Lunar New Year. Baidu, China.

According to CCTV statistics, as many as 74.15% of Chinese youth aged 18 to 25 said they wish to own a pet, underscoring high demand for pets among younger generations.

Accordingly, the pet-focused consumer market is diversifying. Offerings such as New Year's Eve banquets for pets, pet photography studios, exclusive kindergartens, fitness centers, and even funeral services have appeared.

Pet kindergartens have opened in major cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Yantai. Ms. Li, a teacher at a kindergarten in Chengdu, explained that the primary customer base comprises women aged 25 to 40, who place utmost importance on their pets' quality of life. As pet kindergartens become increasingly popular, debates have flared up on social networking services (SNS), with comments such as "dogs live more lavishly than people" or "more people are treating pets as their own children." Ms. Li added, "Life with pets isn't about comparison, but about responsibility and emotional connection."

Particularly on e-commerce platforms and in offline stores, "New Year's Eve banquets for pets" have become popular items. A "New Year's Eve banquet for dogs" package released last year at a store in Guangzhou offered 10 dishes per dog for 168 yuan (about KRW 35,000), and sold out immediately after its launch.

A puppy exercising on a treadmill. Xiaohongshu.

A dog exercising at a dog-exclusive fitness center. Xiaohongshu.

Fees at pet fitness centers usually run 599 yuan (about KRW 123,500) per visit, 300 yuan (about KRW 60,000) for treadmill use, and up to 20,000 yuan (about KRW 4.12 million) for an annual membership. These prices are comparable to those of personal training sessions for humans. Ms. Yang, who lives with her dog, said, "I spend more than 3,000 yuan (about KRW 620,000) per month on my pet, which amounts to half my income."

Expansion of Pet-friendly Stores, Trains, and More

The restaurant and retail industries are also increasing the number of locations where customers can be accompanied by their pets. Brands like Starbucks, Hey Tea, Bawangchaji, Burger King, and Shake Shack are all expanding their pet-friendly outlets.

The pet funeral industry is growing rapidly as well. According to data from Tianyancha, a Chinese business information platform, there are 43,600 businesses related to pet funerals nationwide, with service fees ranging from 1,000 yuan (about KRW 200,000) to several tens of thousands of yuan. Pet funeral companies offer a variety of services, including euthanasia, memorial ceremonies, cremation, remains storage, and creation of commemorative goods.

Changes within the public services sector are also notable. Last year, the China Railway Corporation launched pilot pet transportation services on some sections of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail. Initially limited to five stations and ten trains, the program expanded in July this year to 163 stations and 364 trains nationwide. Over the first year of pilot service, about 15,000 pets traveled in dedicated express boxes in high-speed rail cargo compartments. Fees range from 400 to 860 yuan depending on distance, while airlines typically charge an additional fee exceeding 1,000 yuan based on flight distance.

Local industry officials have emphasized the enormous growth potential of the pet-related economy. However, they also stress that, for sustainable development, careful balance is needed between regulatory oversight of operations, the use of public spaces, and the rights of general consumers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.