Reuters
- The Polar Bear Hotel is part of the Harbin Polarland theme park in Harbin, northeast China.
- It features a polar bear enclosure in the center which all the bedrooms face onto.
- The bears are let outdoors when temperature and air quality permit.
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The world's first 'polar bear hotel' has opened up in China and immediately drawn criticism from animal conservationists.
The Polar Bear Hotel is part of the Harbin Polarland theme park in Harbin, northeast China, and features a fake polar bear enclosure in the center, which all 21 bedrooms face onto.
With 33 pieces of tempered glass acting as a barrier between them and the animals, guests are informed that they are "neighbors 24 hours a day" during their stay at the $15 million hotel, according to AFP.
Photos from the hotel show that the polar bears, which have been an endangered species since 2008, are housed in a compound that consists of a white painted floor, harsh lighting, and fake rocks.
Reuters
Yang Liu, a spokesperson for Harbin Polarland, told Reuters that the indoor pen is only part of the animals' total enclosure area. They are let outdoors when temperature and air quality permit.
She added that interest in staying at the hotel, where the rooms' prices currently range from $290.10 to $351.56 per night, was "very high," and noted that it is fully booked through a trial period.
However, many conservationists have criticized the hotel and urged guests not to stay there. Jason Baker, Vice President of PETA Asia, told Reuters on Saturday: "Polar bears belong in the Arctic, not in zoos or glass boxes in aquariums - and certainly not in hotels.
"Polar bears are active for up to 18 hours a day in nature, roaming home ranges that can span thousands of miles, where they enjoy a real life."
A polar bear called Pizza lying on her side in a glass-walled enclosure in a shopping mall in Guangzhou, a city in south China, caused international uproar after surfacing in 2016