
China: 'This adds a lot of fun to our lives' - University students make cardboard pets to cure lockdown loneliness
University students across China have started creating cardboard pets to cure boredom and loneliness on campuses stuck in COVID-19 lockdowns, as seen in footage captured in Wuhan on Sunday.
As China continues to practice its ‘zero-COVID’ policy many campuses are still under quarantine and students are lacking regular opportunities to socialise.
“First of all, I think it is a very interesting phenomenon that college students reuse cardboard boxes to make puppies,” said a student in Wuhan. “It reflects our college student's ability to create DIY things. Then we can enrich our lives in our spare time. It also promotes social skills, so we get double the happiness”
“I usually keep this puppy in my bedroom but is also very fun to take it out in the sun for a walk. This adds a lot of fun to our lives,” said a second student.
The cardboard pet trend has garnered mixed responses from the wider public. While some applaud the students for their creativity, others on social media worry that they may have been confined for too long.

University students across China have started creating cardboard pets to cure boredom and loneliness on campuses stuck in COVID-19 lockdowns, as seen in footage captured in Wuhan on Sunday.
As China continues to practice its ‘zero-COVID’ policy many campuses are still under quarantine and students are lacking regular opportunities to socialise.
“First of all, I think it is a very interesting phenomenon that college students reuse cardboard boxes to make puppies,” said a student in Wuhan. “It reflects our college student's ability to create DIY things. Then we can enrich our lives in our spare time. It also promotes social skills, so we get double the happiness”
“I usually keep this puppy in my bedroom but is also very fun to take it out in the sun for a walk. This adds a lot of fun to our lives,” said a second student.
The cardboard pet trend has garnered mixed responses from the wider public. While some applaud the students for their creativity, others on social media worry that they may have been confined for too long.