Pets Can Now“Travel Alone”on High-Speed Railways!

Recently, a small green icon with the Chinese character “宠” (“pet”) has started to appear beside certain train numbers on the official ticketing platforms of the Railway 12306 App. These icons indicate that the trains concerned offer pet consignment service.

How to arrange consignment for pets? Which trains departing from Chengdu are eligible? How much does it cost?

Which Trains Departing from Chengdu Are Eligible?

Chengdu-Xi’an:Trains D1950 and D1947 offer pet consignment service from Chengdudong Railway Station to Hanzhong Railway Station, Xi’anbei Railway Station, and other stations.

Chengdu-Beijing:Trains G1591 and G1592 offer pet consignment service from Chengdudong Railway Station to Hanzhong Railway Station, Xi’anbei Railway Station, Zhengzhoudong Railway Station, Shijiazhuang Railway Station, Beijingxi Railway Station, and other stations.

Chengdu-Nanning:Trains G3469 and G3470 offer pet consignment service from Chengdudong Railway Station to Chongqingxi Railway Station, Guiyangbei Railway Station, Nanningdong Railway Station, and other stations.

What Services Are Provided?

1. Upgraded Ticketing Process: For trains that support pet transport, the “宠” (“pet”) icon can be found by the train numbers on the booking page. After a passenger successfully purchases a ticket, the “宠物托运” (“Pet Consignment”) option will automatically appear. Then, click “预约下单” (“Book Now”) and select the departure station, destination, and date of consignment, and the system will automatically show real-time available options. Next, the passenger can fill in the reservation information, including details of the pet owner, the recipient, and the pet, on the information page and submit the order. Staff will review the application within 2 hours, and the result will be sent via SMS notification.

2. Upgraded Services: In addition to the earlier service model where pets and owners travel on the same trains, a new option for independent pet transport has been launched on October 15, 2025, allowing pets to be sent by train without being accompanied. This is done by making a reservation through the customer service hotline (95572) 2-5 days before the planned consignment date. Each booking allows for one pet. A detailed list of the stations offering this service is available under the “高铁宠物托运” (“High-Speed Railway Pet Consignment”) section in the Railway 12306 App.

How Much Does It Cost?

The pricing for high-speed rail pet consignment is structured according to distance: RMB 558 per pet for distances up to 1,000 km (inclusive), RMB 658 for 1,000-1,500 km (inclusive), RMB 958 for 1,500-2,000 km (inclusive), and RMB 1,258 for 2,000 km (inclusive) and above. All tiers will include complimentary RMB 2,000 basic insurance.

At Chengdudong Railway Station, standard pet consignment rates apply to non-ticketed passengers, while those booking both their own ticket and pet transport on the same train and route receive an approximate 30% discount. This indicates that passengers traveling with their pets will enjoy discounts, while standalone pet consignments incur full fare.

Pet Consignment Guide

Step 1: Reservation in Advance

Ticketed passengers can make an online reservation through the “宠物托运” (“Pet Consignment”) section in the Railway 12306 App one day in advance. Non-ticketed passengers can contact the departure station’s business office by phone 2-5 days before the planned consignment date; the contact numbers are 95572 and 0771-2238533.

Step 2: On-Site Handling

Upon successful reservation, pet owners should arrive at the China Railway Express business office (such as Chengdudong Railway Station) 2-6 hours before departure with their pet, ID document, and valid Animal Quarantine Certificate to complete the consignment procedures.

Step 3: Arrival Pickup

Upon arrival at the destination, pet owners can go to any pickup point designated by China Railway Express to collect their pet by showing the recipient’s valid ID.

Source:HomeinChengdu