Shanxi restaurant’s afternoon tea set with lion-petting service under probe: local authorities

A restaurant in North China's Shanxi Province has been offering a 1,078-yuan ($150.27) afternoon tea service featuring interactions with African lions, Jiemian News reported on Tuesday. In response, staff from the animal and plant division of the Shanxi Forestry and Grassland Bureau stated that zero-distance contact between animals and humans is prohibited, and the matter is currently being handled urgently.

According to Jiemian News, some recent social media posts showed patrons cuddling lion cubs during afternoon tea sessions at a Cantonese restaurant in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province.

According to online platforms, among the packages offered by the restaurant, there is one called "viral hit leisure afternoon tea set" for four people priced at 1,078 yuan. In addition to regular drinks, dried fruits, and desserts, the listed items in the set include a mascot petting service, marked with an original price of 1,592 yuan.

The restaurant's photo album on the platform includes pictures of lion cubs, while reviews mention there are many pets to interact with, including the chance to cuddle lion cubs, the report said.

Some posts confirmed that petting lion cubs is included in the afternoon tea package, along with interactions with other animals such as alpacas and deer.

"About 20 reservations are available each day, so it's necessary to queue early," one user commented.

Some netizens questioned whether the restaurant's breeding of lions and customers' close interaction comply with regulations. In response, a staff member said the restaurant primarily provides food services and has obtained animal breeding permits and employs professional handlers. "We operate like zoos — why can't lions be used commercially," the staff replied.

An official from the Shanxi Forestry and Grassland Bureau's animal and plant division said that zero-distance contact between animals and humans is prohibited, and that investigations are currently being implemented.

In June, the local forestry bureau in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality ordered an immediate halt to "wake-up call service" involving red pandas at a hotel and launched an investigation.