China High-Speed Trains With Pets: 2026 Booking & Rules

Quick answer: China's high-speed rail pet-transport pilot covers selected stations and trains, not every service. China Railway reported an expansion to 25 stations and 38 multiple-unit trains across eight high-speed rail routes on June 20, 2025. Eligible cats and dogs travel in a separate railway transport area, not beside your seat.

The service is not the same as bringing a small pet into a passenger carriage. You must buy a passenger ticket, check participating trains in the Railway 12306 app, make a separate pet-transport reservation and check the animal in at the China Railway Express office at the departure station.

Availability depends on the participating route and train. Treat the current 12306 result as decisive even if an older article lists your route. Our foreign passenger guide to 12306 explains ordinary ticket setup first.

Which pets can use the service?

The pilot accepts:

• One healthy, domestically kept cat or dog per passenger.
• Maximum weight of 15 kg.
• Maximum shoulder height of 40 cm.

The live booking result and current railway instructions remain decisive because pilot arrangements can change. Other animals and pets outside these limits do not qualify for this product.

Pets do not ride in a personal soft carrier inside your coach. The pilot uses separated transport with dedicated care. Passengers and pets travel on the same service, and the pet is collected at the destination station after notification. Confirm the exact handover procedure when reserving.

How do I book pet transport in the 12306 app?

Use the Railway 12306 app's pet-transport function to check participating trains and reserve same-train pet transport. A foreign passport may be accepted for the passenger ticket, but the pet screens may require help from a Chinese-speaking contact.

1. Buy or select the passenger's ticket in the Railway 12306 app.
2. Open the app's pet-transport function.
3. Search the same origin, destination and travel date.
4. Check which train services accept pet transport.
5. Enter the pet details and reserve same-train transport.
6. Pay the quoted transport fee.
7. Save the confirmation and station check-in instructions.

Reserve as early as possible because pet capacity is limited and the pilot operates only on participating services.

Accompanied vs unaccompanied pet transport

The unaccompanied option may suit travelers who have someone receiving the animal at the destination, but confirm its current terms directly with China Railway Express. Do not confuse this with normal luggage or a passenger's train luggage allowance.

What documents are required at the station?

Bring:

• The valid identity document used for ticket purchase.
• The confirmed passenger ticket.
• The pet-transport reservation confirmation.
• A valid animal quarantine certificate.

Ask a local veterinarian or animal health office how the certificate is issued and how long it remains valid. The document must meet the current railway instructions. Do not rely on a vaccination booklet alone unless the relevant authority confirms that it satisfies the requirement.

Go to the China Railway Express office at the departure high-speed rail station, as instructed after booking. Staff receive the pet for separated transport while the passenger boards through the passenger entrance. At arrival, follow the notification and collection instructions.

How much does high-speed rail pet transport cost?

The fare depends on the service and current quote. The supplied 2025 pilot evidence does not establish a single national price, so check the amount shown during booking.

Keep the booking receipt and confirm what care or coverage is included before handing over the pet.

Common booking traps

• Buying any high-speed train and assuming it accepts pets: The pilot covers selected stations and trains only.
• Using the English website alone: Check the Railway 12306 app's pet-transport function for participating services.
• Assuming a personal carrier is enough: The pilot uses separated railway transport arrangements.
• Treating a vaccine book as the quarantine certificate: Confirm the required animal quarantine document.
• Planning without destination collection time: The pet is collected at the destination station after notification.
• Expecting cabin access: Ordinary pets do not travel beside the passenger.

Is this service right for your trip?

It may fit a healthy, domestically kept cat or dog within the pilot's size limit, on a participating train, when the owner can complete the 12306 booking flow and arrange station handover.

It is a poor fit for a larger animal, a pet that may not tolerate separated transport or a route that does not appear in the current booking system. Speak with a veterinarian before booking if the journey may be unsafe for your pet.

Day-of-travel checklist

• Follow veterinary and railway feeding instructions.
• Bring the pet and required documents to the China Railway Express office.
• Carry copies of the booking and health papers offline.
• Keep the destination pickup contact reachable.
• Recheck the train and pet reservation after any ticket change.

Changing the passenger ticket does not guarantee that pet transport transfers. Reconfirm the pet service after modifying the itinerary. For the passenger part of the trip, follow our step-by-step China high-speed train guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can my dog sit with me on a China high-speed train?

No. Pets using the pilot travel in separated transport rather than beside the passenger. Guide-dog rules are a different service and have separate documentation.

Can foreigners book pet transport on 12306?

Foreign travelers may use accepted identity documents for passenger tickets, but the pet-transport function may require help with the app interface. The same railway eligibility and document rules apply.

How many pets can one passenger bring?

The supplied pilot evidence states one healthy, domestically kept cat or dog per passenger, subject to the 15 kg weight and 40 cm shoulder-height limits.

Do all high-speed trains in China take pets?

No. The pilot applies to selected stations and multiple-unit trains on participating routes. Check the exact service in the Railway 12306 app before planning the rest of your trip.