Photo: Screenshot from website

 
Ten adorable pets have recently "checked in" to the pet waiting lounge at the Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, in South China's Guangdong Province, waiting to board their flights and embark on their journeys. This marks the official opening of the nation's first pet waiting lounge, according to reports on Monday. 

To meet the growing demand for pet transportation with more professional and considerate services, Shenzhen airport has launched a one-stop pet travel service for pet owners and enthusiasts. 

This is part of a series of efforts to transform Shenzhen into a pet-friendly city, allowing more pet owners and enthusiasts to experience the warmth and inclusive culture of the city.

Located nearby the domestic cargo terminal of the airport, the pet waiting lounge had designated separate areas for cats and dogs, with each pet having its own independent waiting space equipped with professional pet experts and advanced facilities, soft lighting and organic materials. Additionally, travelers can also check the status of their pets online throughout the journey.

With an indoor area of approximately 210 square meters, the lounge boasts a comprehensive monitoring system that can monitor and alert temperature, humidity, PM2.5, PM10, and ammonia levels 24 hours a day, allowing each pet to enjoy a "pleasant" waiting experience.

Zhou Jie, general manager of the Shenzhen Airport domestic cargo terminal, said that  services provided for pets include dedicated security check-in channels, personal care, regular patrols, on-demand feeding and watering, as well as free boarding services for pets stranded due to flight delays. 

In 2020, Shenzhen became the first city in the Chinese mainland to ban the consumption of cats and dogs. In the same year, the city launched the "Shenzhen Dog Raising Service" mini-program to standardize urban dog management, guiding pet owners to voluntarily comply with the regulations. The mini-program also allows citizens to apply to adopt stray dogs, thus promoting adoption over purchasing.

Shenzhen, features over 50 pet-friendly shopping malls with dedicated facilities such as pet elevators, stroller rentals, pet play areas and restrooms. Additionally, Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan Province also boasts over 20 pet-friendly malls. 

In January, China Southern Airlines launched a pet travel service section at Terminal 2 of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to meet the personalized needs of passengers traveling with pets on the same flight.

On May 9, the China railway customer service center initiated a survey concerning the transportation of pet on high-speed railways, which sparked widespread discussion on the internet. Currently, bullet trains do not allow the consignment of pets.

Some passengers however are in favor of the idea, saying it's convenient to travel with pets, while others voiced concerns, saying pets may potentially have a negative impact on the high-speed train environment due to noise, odor, excrement and fur or feather shedding. 

The center said on Saturday that it would listen to various opinions and conduct a feasibility study of pet consignment on high-speed trains based on the survey feedback.

Global Times