{"id":43939,"date":"2025-05-06T09:52:28","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T09:52:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daoinsights.com\/?p=43939"},"modified":"2025-05-06T09:52:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T09:52:47","slug":"why-chinese-youth-bet-on-pets-and-plushies-as-their-new-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daoinsights.com\/exclusives\/why-chinese-youth-bet-on-pets-and-plushies-as-their-new-family\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Chinese youth bet on pets and plushies as their new family"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Marriage and birth rates are two of the most watched indicators in China\u2019s society. Not only has the population in China been decreasing for 3 years in a row, but the marriage rate has suffered as well. In 2024, the marriage rate in China dropped again, this time by 20%.<\/strong> This was due to a combination of factors, including the end of the 2023 post-pandemic marriage boost, the \u201ccooling-off\u201d period that was introduced to discourage divorce, the Year of the Dragon was a \u201cwidow year\u201d because of the lack of Lichun (\u7acb\u6625) solar term, or the start of spring. Young Chinese people, single, dating or married, are also looking for alternatives to children, from pets to plushies, all the way to AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young people in China, single, dating or married, are also looking for alternatives to children<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Reigning cats and dogs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The pet economy has been one of the hottest topics in the consumer market. In 2024, it was reported<\/a> that China had more pets than toddlers and babies below the age of 4 for the first time. By 2030, pets will be twice the number of small children. Families with pets are now over 100 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image: Pidan Store\/Weibo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In what\u2019s called the era of \u201cpet-keeping 3.0\u201d<\/a>, pets are becoming \u201cfamily\u201d, taking on the role of children. For reference, the 1.0 era was of the functional guard dogs or mouser cats, while 2.0 saw better nutrition, health, and quality of life for pets. We have been hearing about pet-friendly shopping and dining for a few years now, and since the Chinese New Year (CNY), travelling with pets is becoming easier than ever. From having your pet in the cabin with a seat on planes to the high-speed train in China trialling pet transportation, all the way to pet-friendly hotels, travelling with pets is becoming increasingly accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Douyin teams up with Bazaar Pets for May Day pet photoshoot<\/a><\/blockquote>