>>717226672What Is True
Animal cruelty can and does exist in China, just as it does in many other countries, including in Western industrial farming.
Dog meat festivals like the Yulin festival have drawn global criticism, partly due to videos showing inhumane treatment of animals. Many Chinese activists protest these events.
There is no national belief or cultural norm that animals must suffer to taste better. This is a myth.
What Is False or Misleading
That "the Chinese" as a whole believe this — China is over 1.4 billion people with diverse beliefs, traditions, and values.
That this idea is embedded in mainstream Chinese cooking — Chinese cuisine generally emphasizes freshness, balance, and proper preparation, not suffering.
Perspective & Ethics
Every culture has had (and still has) ethical blind spots around food and animals:
Foie gras, veal, and factory farming practices in the West involve significant animal suffering.
Chinese society is increasingly concerned with animal rights, with growing support for animal protection laws, pet adoption, and anti-cruelty activism.
Summary
The idea that Chinese people believe animal suffering improves flavor is a harmful stereotype that exaggerates rare and culturally fringe practices. While animal cruelty exists and should be addressed wherever it occurs, this rumor often serves to dehumanize and scapegoat an entire culture, rather than promoting meaningful global animal welfare discussion.