Tucked away in a quiet alley off the bustling Zhongpu Street in Pingtan lies a whimsical retreat known as Meow Garden. Once an abandoned kindergarten, the 700-square-meter space has been transformed by a young woman nicknamed Chang Gong into a wonderland of cats, flowers, and dreamy charm. 

This lovingly chaotic garden café is home to six resident cats, over a hundred types of blooming flowers, and a series of quirky, imaginative corners—from a sunlit reading room to a bamboo-ceilinged spring exhibit space. "This isn't just a café or a garden," says Chang Gong. "It's a life space. A place for people—and cats—to simply be."

A Slow Escape from the City

From the entrance, feline motifs guide the way: paw-printed floor tiles, solar lamps shaped like cats, and coat hooks curled like playful tails. Each cat has a name, a backstory, and a personality—like "Panda," the calm, sleepy elder of the bunch, or "Little Potato," a mischievous stray-turned-resident who now delights in ambushing unsuspecting guests from the bushes. 

"Everything here is meant to feel relaxed, a little wild," explains Chang Gong. "I don't want symmetrical flowerbeds or perfectly cute cats—I want real life, with all its surprises."

Flowers That Change With the Seasons

Flora is just as central to Meow Garden's charm. Carefully arranged by bloom season, the garden features trumpet trees, pink cherry blossoms, blue plumbagos, lupines, and delphiniums. "No matter what month you visit," Chang Gong says, "you'll find something beautiful in bloom."

A Living, Breathing Space

Inside, the garden flows into a collection of themed rooms: a sunny tea lounge with vintage tropical vibes, a music room decorated with instruments and microphones, and a cozy sunroom filled with books like I Am a Cat. 

"The shadows of the guava tree dance on the walls every afternoon around 3 or 4," says Chang Gong. "It's my favorite time of day."

She and co-manager Zhang Jian hope to expand Meow Garden's offerings with cat-themed lattes, fresh-baked pizza, and a local talk show titled Flavors of Pingtan. 

But what truly sets Meow Garden apart is its spirit. "Here, nothing is just for show," says Chang Gong. "The cats are not mascots—they live here, they grow here. This place isn't about performance. It's about coexistence."

As visitors sip coffee, stroke sleepy cats, and lose themselves in the garden's wild, blooming beauty, it's easy to feel a little bit lighter. Or as a guest from Beijing put it: "I saw a cat basking in the sun, looked up at me like an old friend, and went back to sleep. That's when I knew—I could stay here all afternoon."