The Dogs of Shanghai: A Portrait of Loyalty, Lifestyle, and Loneliness

A short documentary project by Alchemist Films
📍Shot on location in Shanghai, China

🧓 The Old Man Who Cares for Hundreds of Abandoned Dogs

Far from the bustling streets of Shanghai, deep in a rural corner of China, an 80-year-old man has dedicated his life to caring for over a hundred abandoned dogs. With limited resources and an aging shelter that’s falling apart, he feeds, cleans, and comforts these animals every day — driven by compassion alone.

His shelter is crumbling; dogs sleep on cracked platforms and roam broken yards. Yet despite the harsh conditions, this man’s devotion never wavers.

We visited him recently to document his story — a portrait of loyalty, resilience, and hope against overwhelming odds. His daily struggle to protect the voiceless highlights a desperate need for support and awareness.

If you believe small acts of kindness can make a difference, please help by donating, sharing his story, or volunteering. Together, we can amplify the voices of the forgotten.

🐾 A City of Dogs

Shanghai, one of Asia’s most modern cities, is also home to a rapidly growing canine population. According to a 2009 report by the Shanghai government, the city already had over 800,000 registered dogs, and that number has continued to grow at an estimated 30% annually.

We filmed on location across multiple neighborhoods — from suburban parks to tight-knit street corners — to explore what dogs really mean to the people of this megacity.

🐶 Dogs on Parade: A Community Born Online

“Let’s walk our dogs together!” started as a casual message in a QQ group in 2006. Today, it brings hundreds of dog lovers together each month.

On November 21, more than 200 dog owners and 120 dogs gathered at Huating Village, a park on the outskirts of Shanghai. They were brought together by the power of social media.

Dogs ran freely, barked, played, and sniffed each other, while their owners lounged on the grass — proud, relaxed, and united by their shared love of animals.

🎥 Filming this event involved multiple camera units and drone coverage to capture the dynamic interaction between owners and their pets in an open natural setting.

🏠 At the Shelter: Hope, Struggle, and a Dog Named Lele

At a small animal shelter run by Shanghai Small Animal Protection (SSAP), we met Gong Lei, a 23-year-old volunteer who has cared for over 30 dogs and 12 cats.

“I love Lele the most,” she said, holding a long-haired, 4-year-old rescue, “but he probably won’t be adopted. People usually want small, young dogs.”

The shelter is in financial crisis — struggling to cover rent and labor costs that exceed 8,000 RMB/month, with only a handful of adoptions and minimal sponsorship.

🎬 Our interviews were lit naturally and shot handheld for intimacy. We aimed to preserve the quiet dignity of these animals and the people who care for them.

💅 Shanghai’s Pampered Pups

In sharp contrast, we visited a high-end grooming studio where Jojo, a well-groomed dog, stood patiently on a table imported from Japan.

“In Shanghai, dogs are seen as family — not just utility,” said Masaki, a Japanese grooming expert. “They change their hairstyles like people change fashion.”

📸 Capturing this session required macro lenses and a focus on detail — fur textures, gentle scissors, the bond between stylist and pet.

🧓 A Dog Named “I Love You”

Finally, we met Xia Qiren, a 59-year-old retiree who runs a small grocery store in Jing’an with her husband. Their dog, Aini (“I love you” in Chinese), is their only companion in old age.

“A dog will never betray you,” Xia said. “People? Sometimes they do.”

We filmed Xia in her quiet shop — a warm, cinematic contrast to the busy city outside. Her story was a reminder that dogs don’t just fill homes. They fill emotional gaps that no one else can.

🎥 Production Highlights

Director/Producer: Alchemist Films
Filming Locations: 5+ across Shanghai
Crew: 4-person nimble team
Gear: Sony A7 series, drone ops, mobile rigs for on-the-move shooting
Challenges: Securing permission in public parks, sound control with animals
Story Angle: Emotional documentary-style content for brand storytelling

📷 Image Gallery: Behind the Scenes & Documentary Moments

Paralyzed dog lying on the ground in front of a rural animal shelter in China, filmed during a documentary shoot supported by local production fixer services.
Multiple dogs crowded in a small yard looking directly into the camera lens, captured during a documentary filming supported by local fixer services in China.
Three dogs gazing out from a dark shelter room, illuminated softly by light coming through a window, symbolizing hope and longing for freedom, captured during a documentary shoot in China with fixer support.
A dog gazes toward the edge of the frame as the shelter owner gives a haircut inside a timeworn Chinese hair salon, captured during a documentary shoot with fixer support in China.
A dog’s head peeking from the corner of a stair platform in a rundown shelter, looking wearily into the camera, unsure about the presence of strangers during a film shoot in China.
A sad dog sitting on a weathered blue platform in a rundown Chinese shelter, seen through a jagged hole in the wall, captured during a documentary shoot with fixer support.
Stray dog on cracked stairs of a rundown dog shelter in China, captured during a documentary shoot with local production fixer support.