At a reptile cafe in Shanghai, 19-year-old Qiu Shiyuan gently pets a corn snake coiled around her hand. "They're just as affectionate as traditional pets," she says, eyes gleaming with affection. "Many people are interested in them but are held back by the stereotypes of reptiles being cold and frightening creatures."

He Yonghua, a young visitor at the Zenki exotic pet experience store, says the sensation of touching snakes is unique. "You realize it is a living creature, not as scary as it first appears. Touching it gives a feeling of a vibrant life moving in your hands. You learn to respect and admire it," she adds.

As China ushers in the Year of the Snake in 2025, the country is witnessing a boom in its exotic pet market. Reptiles, particularly snakes, emerge as favorites among young pet enthusiasts. The transformation is striking, given the traditional associations of suspicion and fear to snakes and other reptiles.

At Baobaolong Reptile Bar in Yangpu district, one of Shanghai's first reptile cafes, store clerk Qiao Xinran has observed this transformation. "When the store opened four years ago, people were not nearly as interested in exotic pets as they are now," she recalls. "Our customers range in age from 15 to 28 and include kids accompanied by parents. Surprisingly, women make up the majority — challenging long-held assumptions about who is interested in reptilian pets."

The two-story store houses approximately 50 snakes and 70 geckos that give visitors an opportunity to interact with the creatures in a safe, controlled environment. "All our snakes are nonvenomous and carefully temperament-tested," Qiao explains. "We provide detailed handling instructions and maintain constant supervision to ensure the safety of both animals and visitors."

During the Chinese New Year holiday, the store saw dozens of visitors each day, reaching full capacity several times. This surge in interest reflects a broader shift in China's pet culture traditionally dominated by cats and dogs.

According to Petdata.cn's 2025 China Pet Industry White Paper, approximately 17.07 million Chinese people keep exotic pets — defined as uncommon or unusual domesticated animals, including aquatic creatures, rodents, birds, and reptiles. The market has swelled to nearly 10 billion yuan ($1.37 billion), with reptile ownership surging by 2.9 percentage points to 11.3 percent of all exotic pet owners.

Chen Guanwen, an 18-year-old snake owner, exemplifies the new generation of exotic pet enthusiasts. "I've been fascinated by snakes since watching nature channels as a child," she says. After years of research and persuading her parents, she has three snakes, including two boa constrictors.

"They're very low-maintenance pets," she explains. "As a student with a packed schedule, I only need to feed them weekly and maintain their enclosure."