Annual exhibition of the International Hunting Club
A plump and docile black bear strolls leisurely along a forest path in Canada, occasionally lowering its head to nibble on something. Suddenly, a gunshot rings out, and a puff of white smoke rises from the bear’s back. The injured bear flees deep into the forest, eventually collapsing from blood loss. Minutes later, several Chinese individuals appear beside the bear’s corpse, waving their rifles and shouting, their excited faces illuminated by the sunlight.
This is not a scene from a Hollywood blockbuster, but a real-life account of Chinese tycoons on a black bear hunting trip in Canada in June 2011.
Since 2004, an increasing number of Chinese millionaires have ventured abroad to participate in a controversial hunting activity—trophy hunting. Behind its booming popularity, the role of various intermediary agencies can also be faintly seen.
Overseas Hunting
On February 28, 2012, a report in the Guangzhou Daily titled "Fifty Thousand Yuan to Hunt a Polar Bear" caused an uproar, drawing condemnation from the media and the public for such hunting activities.
The emergence of this news stems from an international activity known as "trophy hunting," also referred to as "sport hunting" or "game hunting." According to a survey by the British environmental organization League Against Cruel Sports, trophy hunting originated several centuries ago among white colonists in Africa. They believed that hunting for the heads or antlers of wild animals was a superior form of hunting, and thus for many years, they prohibited black Africans from hunting while reserving this "refined" activity for whites. The hunters’ goal was not to obtain prey for sale but to enjoy the thrill of the chase and preserve the animal as a trophy, often mounting it as a permanent specimen.
Internationally, the permit to kill a single animal can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and when combined with related service fees, the total expense can be even higher—often far exceeding the economic value of the animal itself. As a result, it is dubbed a "rich man’s game."
The person who first introduced "trophy hunting" to China was a wealthy individual. This U.S.-based Chinese-American, named Liu Guolie, made his fortune running supermarkets in his early years. In 1974, after retiring, he traveled the world. Because of his love for hunting, he got to know many managers of international hunting grounds.
In 1984, Liu Guolie came to China and vigorously "promoted" hunting projects. That year, the hunting of argali sheep began in Dulan County, Qinghai Province. In 1987, Gansu opened hunting for blue sheep; in 1990, Xinjiang also opened hunting for blue sheep in Burqin. In 1992, Sichuan began hunting for sambar deer. In 1993, Shaanxi opened hunting for takins. Liu Guolie said he had helped many international hunters in China, "including ambassadors, doctors, Arab princes—some of the wealthiest people from around the globe."
An insider told China News Weekly that at the time, the domestic forestry authorities allowed the hunting of wildlife in the hope of earning foreign exchange by attracting foreign hunters to China. No one expected that one day Chinese people would also hunt abroad.
Similar to how foreigners once came to China to hunt, Chinese tycoons traveling overseas today must pay between 50,000 and 680,000 RMB to hunt animals ranging from black bears to elephants, obtaining trophies such as bear skins and ivory tusks. The high costs mean that those who sign up are typically "the rich and the elite."
Zhang Yang, a Zhejiang-based businessman, once hunted antelope and warthogs in South Africa. He told China News Weekly that the international hunting club he joined was founded in 1971, abbreviated as SCI, and is one of the world’s largest organizations for hunting enthusiasts, with members in over 100 countries.
Like many Chinese tycoons, Zhang Yang joined the International Hunting Club as an individual, paying an annual membership fee of about 100 USD. "The SCI Hunting Convention is held annually in the United States and is the highest gathering for hunters worldwide."
"It’s essentially a trade fair for hunting products and a gathering of hunters, giving off the vibe of a big market," Zhang Yang said. "I joined the club three years ago in Beijing after being introduced by a hunting expert. Many influential figures who enjoy hunting, such as former U.S. President George W. Bush, his father, and former Vice President Dick Cheney, frequently attend this event."
The Driving Forces Behind It
The person who introduced Zhang Yang to the club was an American named Lu Bin, a "key figure" who has guided Chinese tycoons into global hunting grounds.
Lu Bin grew up in the United States and went hunting with his family from the age of 14. In 2007, he established the "I Love Hunting Club" in Beijing and served as its president. Those who have interacted with him describe Lu Bin, with his stern gaze, as having the physique of a professional hunter—tall and lean, exuding energy.
On February 28, 2012, the Guangzhou Daily, in its report "Fifty Thousand Yuan to Hunt a Polar Bear," stated: Initially, Lu Bin created a set of presentation materials and sent them to high-end clubs and golf associations, but received no response. In 2008, Lu Bin began promoting through a website. In 2009, he partnered with a domestic travel agency to "develop" the market, taking two groups to South Africa that year.
Mark, a European hunter based in Beijing, also knows Lu Bin. He told China News Weekly that Lu Bin posted photos of himself taking Chinese tycoons hunting and posing beside animal carcasses on the website, which immediately boosted business.
On the club’s promotional website, dozens of images of club members hunting in Africa and North America are displayed. The scenes are similar—antelope, zebras, lions, and black bears lying on the ground, blood pouring from their chests. Chinese hunters, dressed in camouflage, either alone or accompanied by Lu Bin, crouch beside the animals with rifles or bows in hand, excitedly facing the camera.
In contrast to Lu Bin’s high-profile approach, Wang Wei, a Chinese native born in 1962 and a wildlife expert by training, had been leading Chinese elites on overseas hunting trips since 2004. As the general manager of Beijing Zheng’an International Travel Agency, Wang Wei worked at the Wolong Nature Reserve and the China Wildlife Conservation Association after graduation.
In 2004, the business-savvy Wang Wei took a listed real estate company boss to Africa for a hunting trip, bagging a lion, a zebra, a wildebeest, and a gazelle. He subsequently led many more Chinese on overseas hunts. The Zheng’an International Travel Agency’s website claims it is "currently the only agency in China with successful experience arranging hunts for over forty types of game, including elephants and leopards," facilitating dozens of Chinese and international hunting enthusiasts each year to travel to Pakistan, Mongolia, North America, and Africa for sport hunting.
"The booming popularity of overseas hunting is inseparable from these driving forces," an industry insider who wished to remain anonymous said. With China’s rapid economic growth in recent years, some clubs and hunting consulting firms have set their sights on the wallets of Chinese millionaires.
Su Peifen, head of the animal protection organization Asian Animal Protection Team, analyzed that although hunting is an immensely profitable industry, it still involves only a small segment of the population in the West due to its association with taking lives—a practice most people are unwilling to engage in. In the context of a global economic downturn, China’s continued economic development makes this market a "juicy piece of meat" for international hunting interest groups.
Killing Animals to Protect Them?
As more and more tycoons travel abroad to hunt, the practice of wealthy individuals hunting has sparked increasing controversy domestically.
For years, trophy hunters have claimed to be "conservationists." They argue that the only way for wildlife to survive is by assigning them economic value. In other words, only by making local communities realize the value of wildlife and benefit economically from it can people be motivated to protect animals. Without such benefits, they may fail to protect—or even poach—the animals.
Wang Wei once cited an example: in 1994, there were about 6,700 white rhinos in South Africa. To promote conservation through utilization, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) decided to downgrade the white rhino from Appendix I to Appendix II, allowing hunting. The South African government auctioned 494 live rhinos to private ranchers, generating revenue equivalent to 70 million RMB. Due to the expansion of rhino habitats and addressing the livelihoods of surrounding indigenous communities, private ranches began breeding rhinos and selling them to hunters and major zoos worldwide, leading to a rapid population increase to the current 17,600.
In August 2011, during a domestic lecture titled "Why I Hunt," Wang Wei proposed that "hunting is a sustainable means of animal conservation." As soon as he finished speaking, he was met with skepticism from the audience, particularly journalists.
Audience members repeatedly shouted questions such as, "Are you saying killing animals is for their protection?" Wang Wei did not offer further explanation at the time.
Contrary to this view, the international animal protection organization League Against Cruel Sports submitted a report to the UK Environment Minister in December 2004, stating that ecotourism generates more revenue for local communities than trophy hunting. According to a November 2004 study by the University of Port Elizabeth in South Africa, ecotourism in private game reserves generated 15 times the income of overseas hunting. Although hunters pay substantial fees, the number of ordinary tourists is much higher. Hunters kill an animal in one go, but photographic tourists can take thousands of photos without harming the animal. "Photographing a male lion with a mane can earn Kenya’s national parks $50,000 a year. In contrast, in neighboring Tanzania, a hunter typically pays a $2,000 'trophy' fee, and the lion is gone forever."
Liu Huili, a researcher at the Beijing-based environmental NGO Green Beagle Society, stated that the essence of trophy hunting remains killing. Conservation is not the direct goal, nor can it ensure that every hunter cares whether their money is used for local conservation efforts. Hunters often take their trophies and leave, rarely concern themselves with whether hunting fees are actually used for environmental and wildlife protection. In reality, much of the money goes into the pockets of local officials.
Many hunting activities have been questioned for skirting legal boundaries. Su Peifen, founder and executive director of the Asian Animal Protection Team, said, "In practice, many hunting licenses have discrepancies between the stated purpose and the actual use by hunters."
Su Peifen does not outright oppose hunting but expresses concerns about whether backward countries rigorously vet applications and hunting permits, and whether hunting quotas are based on scientific data. In an email response to China News Weekly, Su wrote: "Using hunted animals as entertainment is extremely cruel. Now that material living conditions have improved, killing for entertainment has become a primary source of profit for Western interest groups. China’s emerging middle and upper classes should be especially vigilant."
Lu Bin’s domestic clubs and luxury hunting tours have also faced scrutiny. Starting March 8, photos of Chinese wealthy hunters on the "I Love Hunting" club website—except for Lu Bin himself—were all pixelated.
Questioned Hunting "Habits"
Even insiders find some practices of Chinese wealthy hunters hard to understand.
Mark, a retired veteran hunter who came to China from Europe to promote hunting, told China News Weekly: Compared to Western trophy hunters, the majority of Chinese wealthy hunters hunt primarily for show.
Chinese wealthy hunters often want to kill as many animals as possible and discard those they can’t take. Mark said that most Chinese hunters abroad are businesspeople, usually in their 40s or 50s, financially capable, fond of SUVs and outdoor activities, and without psychological barriers to shooting. "Many are content with killing many animals and taking photos in front of their trophies to show off."
Mark explained that to cater to Chinese clients’ desire for quantity and speed, some Canadian hunting grounds even prepare months in advance by regularly feeding black bears, making them accustomed to coming for meals at specific times. Upon arrival, Chinese clients are positioned in concealed high spots. When the bears come to eat, the wealthy hunters can shoot them. Additionally, two armed guides accompany Chinese clients—one to prevent injured bears from charging and another to guard against attacks by other large predators during the hunt.
"This isn’t hunting, it’s just shooting animals," Mark scoffed. He believes the purpose of hunting isn’t whether an animal is killed. Over his decades of hunting, there were many instances where, after tracking an animal through footprints, droppings, or fur and locking onto the target, he chose not to shoot at the last moment. "Being able to track and lock onto them is enough to prove my exceptional skills as a hunter—I don’t necessarily have to kill them." Some Chinese hunters’ habits have also drawn widespread criticism from peers.
According to China News Weekly, in 2010, after Chinese millionaire Lao Hu and several Canadian guides killed a black bear in a Canadian hunting ground, they chopped off its four paws that evening and stewed them with seasonings brought from China.
An industry insider revealed to China News Weekly that, in response to Chinese hunting habits, some Canadian hunting grounds have established rules—for example, allowing hunters to take the bear’s skin and meat but not its paws, and requiring the gallbladder to be buried on-site. "But these rules don’t stop clever Chinese hunters—many extract the bile and soak it in strong liquor to bring home."
To cater to some wealthy individuals’ ivory collection hobbies, websites of Wang Wei and Lu Bin heavily promote a "680,000 RMB for two elephants" hunting package to members. Zheng’an Travel Agency’s website claims: "At Beijing’s arts and crafts stores, a 27,655-gram uncarved raw ivory tusk is priced at 1.68 million RMB, and a 3,450-gram tusk at 240,000 RMB. Through legal hunting, we offer not only a rare hunting experience and an authentic 100% African safari adventure—enjoying the luxurious travel and services once reserved for Western colonizers—but also a pair of tusks weighing 30–80 kilograms, along with precious elephant hides, all perfectly preserved for investment."
Lu Bin told members on a forum: "Because our elephant hunts are legal, we have CITES import permits, allowing us to legally bring them into China. We’ve done this several times, but import taxes apply. The total cost is about 60,000 RMB per pair of tusks."