Dog owners bring their pets to a park in Anji county, Zhejiang province, on May 5, to participate in a dog beauty pageant. Anji county has been making various tourist attractions pet-friendly in recent years. PAN XUEKANG/FOR CHINA DAILY

When Zhang Yi packed her bags for a recent holiday trip to the grasslands of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, she made sure one companion was not left behind: her beloved Shiba Inu.

The Chongqing-based pet owner has traveled with her dog to more than 20 cities across China, usually by car. On this trip, the pair camped on the vast Hulunbuir grassland, where her dog ran freely around the prairie.

"I treat my dog as family," the 31-year-old said. "I'm busy with work most of the year, so traveling together is a way for us to spend more time together and for my dog to experience new environments."

Zhang is part of a growing wave of Chinese travelers who refuse to leave their "furry children" behind. Once considered a niche hobby among dedicated pet owners, traveling with animals is increasingly shaping China's tourism market, from hotels and campsites to transportation and destination services.

Data from online accommodation platform Tujia.com show that bookings for homestays labeled as "pet-friendly" during the five-day May Day holiday in 2025 rose more than 80 percent from a year earlier, while the number of such listings on the platform increased fivefold. Industry participants say the momentum has continued into 2026 as more travelers seek accommodations that allow pets.

The trend reflects a broader shift in consumer behavior as younger Chinese view pets less as animals and more as companions integrated into their daily lives.

"We see pet-inclusive travel as a structural trend rather than a short-term fad," said Kathy Jiang, a partner expert at consultancy Roland Berger. "It is driven by the growing perception of pets as family members and the consumption upgrade among younger pet owners."

China's tourism industry is now moving from simply allowing pets in certain venues toward actively designing services around them, Jiang said, although standards and supporting facilities remain uneven.

China's broader pet economy provides a powerful backdrop. The 2026 China Pet Industry White Paper (Consumer Report) said the number of pet dogs and cats in the country's urban areas exceeded 120 million, with the market for pet-related consumption reaching about 312.6 billion yuan ($45.92 billion) in 2025. The market is expected to expand further to 405 billion yuan by 2028.

The report found that 71 percent of pet owners expressed interest in traveling with their animals, and about half had already paid for pet-related travel services.

Tourism operators say the change is already visible in bookings. At the Hu Resort in Beijing, which began developing pet-friendly services in 2019, demand has risen sharply in recent years. Shang Li, the resort's marketing manager, said inquiries, visitor numbers and bookings for pet-friendly rooms during this year's May Day holiday all doubled from a year earlier.

Shang said most guests traveling with pets are young urban professionals aged 25 to 40, who treat their animals as family members and typically seek short leisure breaks in suburban destinations.

Compared with ordinary guests, these travelers often stay longer, return more frequently and spend more on dining and other services, she added.

Travel agencies are experimenting with niche offerings. Outdoor travel platform Youxiake.com launched a pet travel brand in 2024, offering short-distance hiking and holiday itineraries designed for travelers with pets.

Li Yunzi, the company's general manager, said professional pet travel involves far more than simply allowing animals to join a trip.

"It means designing the experience from a pet's perspective rather than treating them as passive companions," Li said in an interview with The Economic Observer, noting that routes are screened to ensure suitable terrain, rest stops and outdoor space for dogs.