The 2019 Cross-Straits (Xiamen) Pet Industry Expo was held in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province, from Dec 20 to 22, according to local media reports.

Covering an area of 12,000 square meters, the expo was attended by more than 300 companies from China and abroad, all involved in pet food, pet costumes, pet toys, and pet hairdressing.

During the expo, a dazzling array of activities was organized, including sports games for dogs, pet catwalk shows, and blind dates for pets.

Moreover, sniffer dogs - international prize-winners from the renowned Xiamen Shuguang Rescue Team - demonstrated professional performances and senior veterinarians were invited to treat pets for free and give free lectures on medical care.

The expo was organized by Xiamen Wenguang Exhibition Co, World Pet Association, China Pet Products Association, and Xiamen Pet Service Industry Association.

Statistics show that with a population of more than 40 million, Fujian is home to two million households keeping a pet and nearly 1,000 pet-related stores. Xiamen houses more than 500,000 pet keepers and roughly 400 pet-related stores, accounting for roughly half of those numbers province-wide.

The pet industry in Xiamen boasts huge potential. The average per capita expense at pet stores or clinics in Xiamen is 934 yuan ($133.57), topping Chinese cities and twice or triple as much as in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The average per capita expense at local pet beauty shops stands at 699 yuan, ranking second in China.

The 2019 Cross-Straits (Xiamen) Pet Industry Expo is held in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province from Dec 20 to 22. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]