China’s national railway operator has launched a fully upgraded pet transportation service for high-speed rail networks across the country, rolling out expanded coverage and flexible booking options to address rapidly growing demand from pet-owning travelers that emerged after a successful one-year pilot program.
The updated service builds on the initial pilot scheme launched on April 8, 2025, which first allowed pet shipments on high-speed services. According to data from China Railway Express, the pilot operated without major disruptions over its 12-month run, moving more than 15,000 pets safely between destinations across the country. The national upgrade extends the service to 121 major high-speed railway stations and 228 regular high-speed train services, representing a key expansion of customized passenger amenities in China’s rail sector.
To accommodate a wide range of travel needs, the upgraded service introduces two distinct shipping options: a companion travel model where passengers share the same train as their pets, and a separate cargo model that lets pets travel independently without their owners.
Under the “travel with your pet” option, passengers can reserve both their own train tickets and pet transport slots directly through China’s official 12306 mobile ticketing app. Each passenger is permitted to bring up to two pets per trip. To avoid disrupting other passengers and maintain biosecurity standards, pets are not allowed in regular passenger cabins. Instead, they are secured in purpose-built dedicated transport containers and housed in a separate, sealed onboard compartment for the full duration of the journey.
The second option, “pet travels alone”, caters to customers who need to ship a pet but do not plan to make the trip themselves. For this service, pets are integrated into the railway’s existing logistics network and transported to the destination station, where the designated recipient can collect them upon arrival.
Pricing for the service follows a transparent distance-based structure with two tiers: standard rates and discounted rates for passengers traveling on the same train as their pet. For a benchmark trip between Beijing and Shanghai, one of China’s busiest high-speed rail corridors, the standard rate for a single pet is 658 yuan (approximately $96), while passengers traveling with their pet qualify for a reduced fare of 460 yuan for the same route. Every pet shipment automatically includes 2,000 yuan in basic insurance coverage to address unexpected incidents during transit.
Veterinary experts note that high-speed rail pet transport offers notable advantages over air travel for animal welfare and efficiency. Zhao Enman, vice-dean of the Beijing University of Agriculture’s animal hospital, explained that commercial airlines typically require pets to go through multiple layers of strict security screening and extended waiting periods before departure. In contrast, high-speed rail operational processes are far more streamlined, which cuts down total transit time and reduces the stress and physical discomfort that pets often experience during long waits and complicated handling procedures.
Early users of the service have also shared generally positive feedback. Cui Na, a pet owner who used the pilot pet transport service on a previous trip, praised the reliability of the service and the quality of the specialized shipping containers. “The transport box on high-speed rail is very professional. If it were available for purchase, I would consider using one at home,” she said, though she acknowledged that she still felt some anxiety about her pet’s wellbeing during the journey.
Railway officials emphasized that the service adheres to a strict isolated transport protocol to ensure both passenger comfort and pet safety. All pets remain in sealed, climate-controlled containers in separate compartments for the entire trip, and trained railway staff monitor animals’ conditions through built-in sensor systems. All transport equipment is thoroughly disinfected after every trip to prevent the spread of pathogens.
Looking ahead, Chinese railway authorities announced plans to continue refining the service based on user feedback and explore innovative new service models. One potential expansion being considered is integrating pet transport services with leisure tourism products, to allow pet owners to bring their animals on vacation trips more easily and further improve the overall customer travel experience.