Pet Fair Asia showcases fashion and tech for furry friends

Pet Fair Asia 2025 kicked off in Shanghai on Wednesday, hosting an adorable pet fashion show and spotlighting the latest in pet technology and products. As one of the largest pet industry gatherings in the Asia-Pacific, the fair has attracted passionate pet owners, including many with a penchant for snappy wearables.

"She is just like my baby. Dressing her up makes me happy," said a pet owner, whose dog Huabei wore an adorable baby-blue outfit to the event.

Visitors, including professional pet models and their owners, have an unparalleled opportunity to find the ideal style for their pet, with trendy, business casual, sportswear and formal wear all being showcased.

For some animals, however, clothing is about more than just fashion. Baidou, a yellow labrador retriever, arrived at the fair in formal attire -- an occasional requirement for his job as security dog for a mall in Shanghai.

"He is not only in charge of safety inspection, but he welcomes visitors too. When he welcomes visitors, he wears a suit and tie," said Baidou's master.

Beyond fashion, this year's fair also highlights new products and technology that make life easier for pet owners. Pet product company Fassner showcased their smart pet food maker, which can produce pet food in seven different forms after the user simply adds ingredients.

"A food maker can help to free your hands. We also have some AI recipes to target elderly and infant pets, as well as those that are lactating and pregnant. And the recipes to help protect joints too. We also create different themes and styles of pet food, which are tailor-made for pet owners who want to feed their pets in a careful way," said Xu Jiao, CEO of Fassner.

Technology company Honeywell has brought an air purifier specifically designed for cat owners, as it collects floating cat hair.

"The sides and base are designed differently from standard air purifiers, they're enlarged so that floating cat hair can be effectively drawn in. There's also a window here, allowing you to see how much hair has been collected," said Wu Xi, brand planner for the Honeywell Air Purifier.

These innovations stem from China's booming pet market. According to the China Animal Agriculture Association, the urban pet population reached 124 million in 2024, while the pet consumption market grew to 30 billion yuan (about 4.2 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of over 7 percent.

This year's Pet Fair Asia attracted more than 2,500 domestic and international exhibitors, along with over 510,000 buyers and visitors.

Since its establishment in 1997, Pet Fair Asia has grown into the premier pet industry event in the Asia-Pacific region and a leading global exhibition. Returning to Shanghai for its 27th Pet Fair Asia from Wednesday to Sunday, the fair is poised to attract a record number of exhibitors and visitors globally.

Pet Fair Asia showcases fashion and tech for furry friends

A series of cross-Strait exchange activities have been held in north China's Shanxi Province, providing platforms for people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to explore shared history, culture, and business opportunities.

A ceremony worshiping Emperor Yandi, a legendary ancestor of the Chinese nation, was held in Gaoping, a county-level city in Shanxi on May 24.

The worship ceremony featured rituals including incense offering, the reading of eulogies, ritual bowing, and traditional Chinese instrument performances. The solemn event brought together people from both sides of the Strait, strengthening their shared sense of cultural belonging and deepening consensus around a common Chinese identity.

"Because (in Taiwan), we've known since childhood that we are descendants of Emperor Yandi and Emperor Huangdi, so attending this ceremony really meant a lot to me," said Hsieh Yu-Chan, a Taiwan resident.

"It truly gives me the feeling of being as the descendants of Yandi and Huangdi. I was deeply moved. If I have the opportunity, I will definitely come again next year," said another Taiwan resident.

Shanxi Province has a solid industrial base and a favorable business environment. The province has rolled out preferential policies for Taiwan residents, attracting more than 100 Taiwan-funded enterprises to invest and settle in.

On May 23, an event highlighting cross-Strait business exchanges was held in the province's Jincheng City, attracting nearly 150 Taiwan businesspeople and youths, enhancing mutual understanding and exploring business opportunities.

"(Shanxi's) cultural tourism, healthcare, and coal chemical industries, in particular, offer excellent opportunities for Taiwan businesses, while Taiwan businesses are also very strong in producing key components for AI computing power. The prospects [for cooperation] are very promising," said Lee Cheng-hung, president of the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland.

"The mainland's economy is actually very strong. I think the success rate of starting a business and investing here is at least twice as high as in Taiwan. So I encourage young people in Taiwan to come and visit more often," said Chang Han-hsuan, a businessman.

During the event, participants also visited local enterprises, a short video production base, and popular tourist attractions across Shanxi.

Cross-Strait cultural, business exchange activities held in Shanxi