A restaurant in Taiyuan City, located in northern China’s Shanxi province, has ignited controversy by offering customers the chance to cuddle lion cubs during afternoon tea. The experience is part of a four-course set priced at 1,078 yuan ($150) and has drawn widespread backlash from animal rights groups and social media users.
Since launching in June, the Wanhui restaurant has been selling about 20 tickets daily for the encounter, which also includes interactions with llamas, deer, and turtles. Videos of customers cradling the cubs have gone viral on platforms like WeChat and Weibo, triggering a storm of criticism.
Animal welfare organisations have condemned the act as both exploitative and unsafe. PETA’s Jason Baker called it “cruel entertainment,” saying, “These cubs are not props for selfies—they are living beings torn from their mothers.” He further criticized the growing trend of using animals for viral content.
Peter Li, China policy specialist at Humane Society International, echoed the concerns: “Even young lions can injure humans. Using wild animals as marketing gimmicks is dangerously irresponsible and ethically wrong.”
In response, the restaurant defended its practice, claiming the animals are in good health and under professional care. A spokesperson said the cubs receive attention from specialised carers.
This incident follows another controversial episode in China involving a hotel in Chongqing that used red pandas to wake up guests, prompting a similar outcry.