A cure for loneliness

According to a 2022 LeadLeo Research Institute survey, among people who spend more than 5,000 yuan per month on their pets, 26 percent lived alone — suggesting that independent pet owners form a significant segment of the high-spending market.

"For those living independently, pets play a dual role — they provide comfort in solitude, but also act as social catalysts. A dog walk can turn into a community activity; pet-friendly cafes and parks become new social spaces that revitalize urban life," said Sun Zhe.

Data from commercial real-estate consultancy JLL shows that in 2025 newly opened retail stores in Shanghai saw "pet and related services" occupy 2.1 percent of total commercial floor area, up by 0.6 percentage points compared with the previous year.

Seen through this lens, pet culture is not just about consumption or novelty — it's about how people in fast-changing cities are reconstructing intimacy, belonging and care, Sun Zhe said.

He added that pet culture might help counter social isolation rather than reinforce it, suggesting that pets often serve as both emotional anchors and social connectors in urban settings.

Bai, the boarding house owner in Hangzhou, said the pet wedding trend reflects the changing mindset of young Chinese.

For many people, pets are emotional companions and social bridges, helping people in modern cities, where real connections are often lacking, to open up, start conversations, and even heal.

"We don't always celebrate our own birthdays, but we celebrate theirs every year," he said.

"A dog's life is only 10 or so years. We may have many dogs in our lifetime — but for them, we're their only family. All we can do is give them a beautiful life, so that both sides have good memories to hold on to. That's enough."

Contact the writer at sunnyu923@163.com