China’s polar bear hotel slammed by animal activists

A new $19 million hotel is set to open in China, but activists are already demanding for it to be closed even before doors officially open.

A new hotel is set to open where guests can watch polar bears around-the-clock from the comfort of their rooms.

Billed as the first of its kind, Harbin Polar Land opened in the northeastern Chinese province of Heilongjiang this week.

The $19 million hotel is being advertised as providing the extraordinary experience of having polar bears as “neighbours 24 hours a day”.

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Far from their natural environment. Picture: Supplied

It is equipped with a total of 33 pieces of tempered glass spread across all functional areas of the hotel.

The polar bears can be seen through the glass from any room where visitors can observe the daily life of the animals.

But animal rights activists have urged guests to stay away from the hotel.

PETA Asia vice president Jason Baker said: “PETA urges patrons to stay away from this hotel and any other establishment that profits from animals’ misery.”

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Guests are able to watch the polar bears 24/7. Picture: Supplied

A room in the Polar Bear Hotel. Picture: AsiaWire/Australscope

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Mr Baker said in the wild, polar bears are active for up to 18 hours a day, covering areas that can span thousands of miles.

“Polar bears belong in the Arctic, not in zoos or glass boxes in aquariums – and certainly not in hotels,” he said.

“The greedy, exploitative aquarium industry, which is out of place in today’s increasingly aware world, is built on the suffering of intelligent, social beings who are denied everything that’s natural and important to them.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission