Imagine being woken up not by an alarm, but by a lion cub gently tapping on your door. This isn't a movie plot but a real service at a Chinese resort that has taken social media by storm with its quirky morning wake-up call. At this resort, guests are roused awake by hotel staff accompanied by an adorable lion cub that comes into the room early in the morning, instantly becoming a playful companion for the children.
This unique offer is available only for 20 special rooms, leading to rapid bookings. According to the hotel, all rooms are fully booked until November, with the cost of an overnight stay at approximately $88.
The hotel emphasizes that they have full legal permission to keep and care for the lion cub. They've registered this service with local authorities to ensure no legal issues arise. The morning call occurs each day between 8 AM and 10 AM, with each session lasting about 7 minutes. Additionally, safety is a top priority as the lion cub is always accompanied by a trained caretaker during room visits. Before enjoying this service, guests must sign an agreement detailing all safety conditions.
Related: Switzerland's Restaurant Where Guests Dine Blindfolded, A Trend Catching On in India
Some users find this service extremely fun, claiming it's the perfect wake-up method for children. In jest, others suggest adding bear and tiger cubs to the roster. However, on the flip side, many express concern about safety, questioning just how secure children are around wild animals. Beijing Youth Daily noted in its editorial that this trend might be misguided, questioning if it falls under animal performance and whether animal welfare is considered.
Related: The Strange Chinese Trend: Why People are Paying to Bathe in 'Spicy Soup'
Earlier this year in June, a hotel in Chongqing faced controversy over its red panda wake-up service, which the authorities shut down. Red pandas are classified as a secondary protected species, whereas lions and tigers are highly protected under the first category, leading to questions about this new service.
