Dispatch from Hotan: Hey bunny, where are the guys?

The odd design has to do with the center's innovative breeding method. According to He, a week-long exposure to light is enough to arouse the adult rabbits into heat. To maximize efficiency and minimize labor costs, light exposure is tightly controlled to synchronize the rabbits' growth, heat period, artificial insemination, breeding, weaning and ultimate sales for meat.

Artificial insemination? Interesting! So how do you know which rabbit is female and which one is male?

"The rabbits here are all female," the manager assured the visitors, matter-of-factually.

The image took a moment to sink in, 896 fattening themselves in complete darkness in their lonely nests, not a single male around, except those of the human. Then one day there is a jab and she is pregnant. Poor bunny!

"Don't worry, it will be very fast," He said with gleeful nonchalance. "We can finish the 896 rabbits here in three hours." So about 12 seconds each? Poor, poor bunny!

The manager went on to explain that the rabbits at the center are raised for breeding mostly and would be given to local farmers. It's those second-generation rabbits from local farmers' individual dark houses that would be sold for meat. Everything from fodder to inoculation, to artificial insemination and sales are either provided for or supported by the breeding center, with local government's full backing, all to make sure the locals benefit most from the project.

According to He, there are 2,742 local households in 10 villages or towns near the center who have joined the rabbit-breeding project. Each household can produce on average about 4,000 rabbits each year, bringing in over 20,000 yuan ($3,127) in cash. Most of China's meat rabbits are sold to Southwest China’s Sichuan province and Chongqing, famed for its fiery dishes, especially hot pot, as well as a craving for rabbit meat. It’s reported that over 300 million rabbits are consumed there each year.

The breeding center in Hotan also has dozens of pet rabbits, all cute little fluffy balls. According to He, the center is expected to add a family-friendly cultural and entertainment park to its operation in the future.

"It's already in our plan for third-phrase development," he said and more rabbit cuisines and ready-to-eat snacks will be created. You can eat it if you want, but by then at least you can play with a bunny too.