Holidays just got way more paw-sitive for pet owners

Once, trip planning in China meant debating aisle seats and breakfast buffets. Now, for a growing number of travelers, the first question is: Can the dog come?

Pet-friendly travel in China is moving from novelty to structured service, with railways, hotels, tour operators, and parks writing formal rules instead of handling requests one by one.

Just before the Spring Festival travel rush, China's railway system expanded its high-speed rail pet transport pilot. The service now covers 110 stations nationwide and 170 train services, up from 54. Newly added hubs include Harbin, Heilongjiang province, Shenyang, Liaoning province, and Taiyuan, Shanxi province.

The system operates under specific conditions. Passengers holding pet-designated tickets must book through the official 12306 railway app; others must reserve several days in advance via China Railway Express. Each passenger may consign one or two pets depending on ticket type. Required documents include personal ID and a valid animal quarantine certificate issued by a veterinary authority. Check-in is required at least two hours before departure.

Pets do not travel in passenger cabins. They are placed in standardized transport crates stored in dedicated high-speed rail express compartments. Railway staff members monitor animals remotely, provide drinking water when needed. Feeding during transit is not permitted to reduce health risks. Owners cannot visit pets en route but receive a pickup notification within an hour of arrival.

"Ten days alone at home feels cruel," says Shanghai pet owner Liu Xinchu. "If I'm traveling but worrying, it defeats the point."

Hotels are also standardizing policies. In major leisure areas of the Yangtze River Delta, pet-friendly rooms typically include designated floors or sections. Amenities include washable bedding, food bowls, waste bags, and post-stay deep cleaning. Many properties charge fixed pet fees rather than ad hoc penalties. Some limit pet size or number per room.

"My dog got a welcome snack," says traveler He Xinyi. "That's when I knew this wasn't just tolerance — it was planning."

Tour operators organizing pet group trips build itineraries around temperature control, frequent stops, waste-disposal rules, and access to nearby veterinary services. Group sizes are often kept small to reduce stress on animals.

"It's the only tour where slowing down is built in," says participant Zhou Ting.

Public spaces are adjusting through zoning rather than open access. Many parks now designate pet-friendly areas and time slots, with leash requirements and cleaning rules strictly enforced. In Shanghai's Jing'an district, several parks provide dog activity zones, water stations and shaded rest areas.

Operators stress that pet-friendly does not mean pet-everywhere. Clear signage, hygiene protocols and designated spaces are essential to balance pet owners' needs with those of other travelers.

What is emerging is not simply a lifestyle trend, but a service upgrade with formal procedures. For many urban residents — especially young professionals and empty nesters — pets structure daily life and travel decisions alike.

"When services consider my dog," says office worker Fang Yu, "they're recognizing how people actually live now."

Travel in China is still about movement. But increasingly, it also comes with a checklist: Ticket, ID — and the family member on four legs.