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Seventeen years on the streets, living and working with the people of China, Jeff
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My comments
Over the last three years, Evelyne and I, and China Writer Amir Khan and I have visited many small towns and villages across China.
Evelyne and I are currently staying in an isolated hamlet in Southern Fujian Province. It has maybe 50 people living here. We had to drive 50km to find an ATM that would accept my foreign bank card.
The Atm was in little Nanjing, not the famous one near Shanghai. It has 300,000 souls, which by Sino-standards is a small burg.
It is incredibly clean, safe, green, organized, well governed and full of consumer commerce. It has public buses and uber-cheap taxis everywhere.
Evelyne pined she could there, if it weren’t for the blistering hot, humid summers. I could too.
China’s smaller urban spaces are seeing an amazing renaissance, thanks to high/low-speed trains and smaller airports saturating isolated areas.
We love visiting them, as they become more interesting to people, by offering big-city services, as the article below discusses.
Article
Economic Watch: From lattes to kennels, China’s rural towns tap booming pet economy to spur growth
Xinhua
Published: 2026-04-05
SHANGHAI, April 11 (Xinhua) — A latte topped with cat-shaped foam, a guest room designed for boarding dogs and a pet-themed obstacle race are among the scenes drawing attention in Shuxin Town in Shanghai, where local authorities are betting on the fast-growing pet economy to revitalize rural areas.
In Yuejin Village, a former village committee office has been transformed into a pet-friendly cafe. Outside, a courtyard features designated dog parking spots equipped with leashes, water dispensers and cleaning supplies.
“Many cafes in urban areas now allow pets, but we offer larger spaces and more comprehensive services,” said Chen Yinghao, a barista.
Nearby, a boarding facility has filled more than 30 percent of its 70 dog kennels within two months of opening, with an average stay of around 20 days.
The scenes reflect a broader shift taking shape in the town.
China’s pet economy has surged in recent years, fueled by urban lifestyles and rising spending on companion animals. According to a 2026 industry report, the number of pet dogs and cats in China’s urban areas reached 126 million in 2025, driving the pet consumption market to 312.6 billion yuan (about 45.5 billion U.S. dollars). The market is expected to expand further to 405 billion yuan by 2028.
Experts say rural areas, with lower costs, more space and better ecological conditions, are increasingly attractive for pet-related businesses seeking new growth opportunities.
For decades, Shuxin’s economy relied heavily on agriculture, with limited income streams for local residents. The pet industry, officials say, offers higher added value and stronger consumer appeal.
The town has become one of the first in Shanghai to roll out targeted policies supporting the pet industry. As companies across the pet supply chain move in, it aims to capitalize on both rising consumer demand and expanding industrial opportunities.
A recently released policy package sets out 15 measures across five areas, including infrastructure, industry chain development, technological innovation, branding and talent support, and providing full-cycle financial support and services for incoming businesses.
More than 30 pet-related companies and industry associations approached the town in 2025, and projects will be selected based on alignment with its development priorities and industry needs, a local official said.
Sun Ruowang, who has spent more than a decade working in the pet industry, recently launched a rural pet club in Huimin Village, integrating pet food production, grooming services, events and talent training.
“The rice fields will be leased to nearby farmers, with the grain used as an ingredient for fresh pet food, while the straw will be used to create play areas for pets,” Sun said.
Sun’s pet club is in talks with a local agricultural base to develop a new line of fresh pet food, aiming to achieve coordinated innovation across the supply chain and mutual benefits.
As incomes rise and the economy shifts toward quality growth, consumption is expanding from goods to experiences and from function to emotion, fueling the rise of new spending patterns such as the pet economy.
Across China, rural areas are tapping the pet economy as a new driver of growth, helping promote rural revitalization.
In Caoxian County in Shandong Province, 459 pet-related businesses were operating as of late October last year, spanning pet home furnishings, food, clothing and services.
Despite rapid expansion, challenges remain, particularly a shortage of skilled workers, which is more pronounced in rural areas.
Wu Zesunwen, a third-year student majoring in pet care and training at a vocational college in Jiangsu Province, is interning in Shuxin Town. He said most graduates in his field tend to work in urban pet shops and animal hospitals.
“There are few people in the village, mostly elderly, and almost no nightlife,” he added. “After a while, it can feel dull.”
To address these challenges, Shuxin Town is working with educational institutions to develop training programs in pet grooming, pet training, nutrition and veterinary care, while improving infrastructure and public services to attract and retain talent.
He Ting, an official in Huimin Village, said rural development should not simply replicate urban pet-friendly models, but should prioritize ecology, make use of local resources and keep costs under control.
References
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1358301.shtml
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The China Trilogy is an honorary degree in Chinese Studies. Don’t miss out!
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44 Days Backpacking in China: The Middle Kingdom in the 21st Century, with the United States, Europe and the Fate of the World in Its Looking Glass https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=YBKHEAAAQBAJ
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China Rising: Capitalist Roads, Socialist Destinations https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=YNmLEAAAQBAJ
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BIG Red Book on China: Chinese History, Culture and Revolution
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44 Days Backpacking in China: The Middle Kingdom in the 21st Century, with the United States, Europe and the Fate of the World in Its Looking Glass
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China Rising: Capitalist Roads, Socialist Destinations
https://www.amazon.com/China-Rising-Capitalist-Socialist-Destinations/dp/0996487042
BIG Red Book on China: Chinese History, Culture and Revolution
https://www.amazon.com/BIG-Red-Book-China/dp/1673322719/
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Praise for The China Trilogy:
Why and How China works: With a Mirror to Our Own History
JEFF J. BROWN, Editor, China Rising, and Senior Editor & China Correspondent, Dispatch from Beijing, The Greanville Post
Jeff J. Brown is a geopolitical analyst, journalist, lecturer and the author of The China Trilogy. It consists of 44 Days Backpacking in China – The Middle Kingdom in the 21st Century, with the United States, Europe and the Fate of the World in Its Looking Glass (2013); Punto Press released China Rising – Capitalist Roads, Socialist Destinations (2016); and BIG Red Book on China (2020). As well, he published a textbook, Doctor WriteRead’s Treasure Trove to Great English (2015). Jeff is a Senior Editor & China Correspondent for The Greanville Post, where he keeps a column, Dispatch from Beijing and is a Global Opinion Leader at 21st Century. He also writes a column for The Saker, called the Moscow-Beijing Express. Jeff writes, interviews and podcasts on his own program, China Rising Radio Sinoland, which is also available on YouTube, Stitcher Radio, iTunes, Ivoox and RUvid. Guests have included Ramsey Clark, James Bradley, Moti Nissani, Godfree Roberts, Hiroyuki Hamada, The Saker and many others. [/su_spoiler]
Jeff can be reached at China Rising, [email protected], Facebook, Twitter, Wechat (+86-19806711824/Mr_Professor_Brown, and Line/Telegram/Whatsapp: +33-612458821.
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