Chinese Restaurant Offers Lion Cub Hugs During Afternoon Tea

DDM News

A luxury restaurant in northern China’s Shanxi Province has sparked nationwide debate and international concern after launching a controversial afternoon tea set that includes close encounters with lion cubs.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the upscale eatery is offering a four-course teatime experience during which guests can pose with and hug live lion cubs.

The bizarre promotion, reportedly designed to attract affluent customers and social media attention, has gone viral across Chinese platforms like Weibo and Xiaohongshu, prompting a flood of both curiosity and condemnation.

The afternoon tea set is presented with high-end pastries, drinks, and exotic ambiance, but the main attraction is the chance to physically interact with lion cubs in the dining area.

Images and videos shared online show guests, including children, holding and cuddling the animals as part of the dining experience.

Critics argue that while the restaurant’s offer may seem novel to some, it poses serious risks to the animals’ welfare, as well as potential health and safety concerns for patrons.

Animal rights groups in China and abroad have called for an immediate investigation into how the cubs were obtained and whether the establishment has legal clearance to keep and display them.

“This is not conservation, this is exploitation,” said a statement from a leading Chinese animal welfare group. “Lion cubs are not toys.

They need proper care, space, and a natural environment, not photo shoots in crowded restaurants.”

The Chinese public remains divided over the trend.

While some internet users expressed amazement and excitement over the rare opportunity, many others condemned the restaurant’s stunt as cruel and unethical.

“Those cubs should be with their mothers, not sitting on tables for selfies,” wrote one Weibo user.

According to Chinese wildlife protection laws, lions are considered Class I protected animals, and their display or captivity requires special licenses from forestry or environmental authorities.

Whether the restaurant in Shanxi has such permits is still unclear.

As the controversy escalates, local authorities have reportedly begun looking into the matter.

A spokesperson for the Shanxi Wildlife Protection Department told domestic media that an investigation is underway to determine the legality and source of the lion cubs.

China has been under increasing scrutiny in recent years regarding animal rights, especially following viral incidents involving live animal performances and roadsidezoos. The outcry

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