China has launched a pilot program allowing small cats and dogs to travel on select high-speed trains, marking a significant step forward in pet-friendly public transportation.
Starting April 8, China Railway has launched a pilot pet consignment service on select trains along the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway. This new service features “separate travel for people and pets, with dedicated care during transport.”
At the same time, the 12306 railway app introduced a new “Pet Consignment” feature. Passengers can book the service online at least two days in advance. Once confirmed, they may check in one healthy, family-trained cat or dog per passenger. The pet must weigh no more than 15 kilograms and have a shoulder height of no more than 40 centimeters.
The pilot program is available on 10 trains, including G119/118, G121/122, G127, G134, G183/184, and G195/196. It operates between five major stations: Beijing South, Jinan West, Nanjing South, Shanghai Hongqiao, and Hangzhou East.
To use the service, passengers should:
Check available trains using the “Pet Consignment” option in the 12306 app.
Purchase a ticket and reserve the pet service at least two days prior to departure.
Bring the pet to the departure station at the scheduled time, along with:
The same ID used to book the ticket,
A valid Animal Quarantine Certificate.
At the destination, passengers will receive a text message or phone call with instructions on how to pick up their pet.
This pilot program reflects the growing demand for pet-friendly travel in China. If successful, it could pave the way for expanded services on more high-speed rail routes in the future.
By Chen wang, additional reporting by China Railway.
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