GBA's largest one-stop mall for pets opens

A one-stop shopping mall for pet has commenced trial operations in Longhua District, becoming the largest of its kind in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

A one-stop pet shopping mall has begun trial operations in Longhua District, offering a variety of services and products for animal lovers. Photos from Daily Sunshine

Situated in the Kaihoda Plaza in Dalang, Longhua District, the 20,000-square-meter mall encompasses stores that cover the entire life cycle of pets, such as medical care, elderly care, and funeral services.

It will regularly host life science exhibitions and extracurricular education for primary and secondary school students, set up quarantine spots for pets, and build cross-border digital trading and live-streaming platforms to help merchants expand sales channels.

The Shenzhen Small Animal Life Science Museum in the mall, which recently opened to the public, receives more than 500 visitors each day. Meanwhile, the city's first firefly science exhibition will take place at the mall from May 20 until the end of summer vacation.

In the future, the mall plans to establish a pet industry talent training center to improve the professional quality and skill levels of practitioners, aiming to become a benchmark for innovation in the pet industry.

Pet owners and their furry companions enjoy interactive moments at a pet-friendly mall.

China's pet industry is experiencing remarkable growth. A Goldman Sachs report said that for the first time in 2024, the number of pets in China had surpassed the number of children under the age of 4.

Shenzhen is at the forefront of this expansion. The number of pet dogs and cats exceeded 500,000 in the city, with people in their early 40s and younger making up the main group of pet owners, according to Shenzhen-based think tank the China Development Institute.

As of December 2024, Shenzhen was home to over 96,000 pet-related enterprises with a combined revenue of 10 billion yuan, according to the city’s market regulator.

With the booming development of the pet economy, the pet medical care industry has also seen unprecedented development opportunities. By the end of November 2024, Shenzhen had 508 medical institutions for pets, a 3.3% year-on-year increase compared to 2023, with over 1,700 licensed veterinarians registered.

More than 50 shopping malls and over 1,000 restaurants in Shenzhen welcome pets, while more than 10 parks tailored for pets have been opened.

Traffic tip:

Metro: Line 4 to Longsheng Station (龙胜站)，Exit A or D