2011-01-20 17:28

An animal vendor plays with a baby rabbit. [Photo / China Daily]

As the Year of Rabbit gets ready to pounce, vivacious bunnies are attracting the eyes and purses of city slickers. Beijing's markets are overrun with interest and for several vendors, demand is far outstripping supply.

Li Xiulian, a woman in her 50s who sells rabbits at Shilihe pet market in Chaoyang district in Beijing, said customers of all ages are buying her rabbits and she is seeing a lot more business than in previous years.

"At least 10 rabbits have being sold every day since the start of the New Year," she said.

"Some days, I can sell more than 30 because customers might buy a dozen rabbits as gifts for the children of their friends and relatives. Last year, I could only sell 20 rabbits in a week."

Li said her rabbits cost 10 yuan each and a cage is just 15 yuan. This is a significantly lower startup than with a cat or dog, which Li notes makes them appealing to even primary school students.

"Rabbits are great and I have always wanted one, but my mother didn't think I would be able to raise it properly," said Yan Yan, a fourth grader at Shilihe Elementary School, who bought a pair of white rabbits with red eyes.

"This year will be the Year of the Rabbit so my mom has given the go-ahead. I am so excited now as I believe I can take good care of them."

Yan said many of her classmates also have plans to raise rabbits this year and some have already bought their new pets.

Rabbit vendors at Xinguanyuan pet market in Haidian district are also seeing a boom in business. There is a larger selection of rabbits at Xinguanyuan, costing between 10 and 200 yuan per animal.

One vendor, surnamed Zhang, said the most popular "product" this year is the Blanc de hotot - a white rabbit originating in France with black eye rings, which gives them the nickname "panda rabbit".

"They look special but cost a bit more, about 100 yuan each," said Zhang. "Those with lopped ears are even pricier, about 200 yuan each. Many middle-aged customers buy these for their superiors as new year gifts."