Shanghai unleashes festival to celebrate four-legged friends

As Shanghai experiences a surge in pet-friendly activities and services, a growing number of commercial spaces are opening their doors to four-legged companions and offering entertainment.

A pet carnival with a fun playground will open in Shanghai Times Square from the end of April to June. Activities such as dog yoga, a pet fashion show, skateboarding, and cycling will be available for pets and their owners.

"Pets are becoming more like children to their owners rather than their good friends, which has led to increasing demand for pet entertainment," said Chen Xi, senior promotions manager at the shopping center.

Entitled "Woof! It's My World", the carnival will feature different themes every week, and is expected to attract 300 to 500 participants and bringing in over 10,000 visitors to the mall during the event.

"We will start with pet fashion shows and then launch a pet skateboarding activity, and invite the French bulldog community to take the lead in experiencing skateboarding.

"Doga, which enables dogs to practice yoga with their owners, and a cycling activity that uses our customized bicycles to ride with pets, have all attracted many applicants," said Chen, adding that a pet adoption event will be held as well.

A pet art exhibition, designed from a pet's perspective, will also be included. Chen said that all the paintings will be placed on the ground so that pets can view and enjoy them.

The carnival is intended to announce the transformation of the shopping center into a pet-friendly environment at a time the pet economy is booming.