Pets are allowed on trains departing from SZ North Station

A pet owner snaps a photo of his dog at a shopping mall in Shenzhen, capturing a moment of companionship in a pet-friendly space. Bao'an Daily

Passengers are now permitted to travel with their furry friends on trains departing from Shenzhen North Station, following the announcement by the country’s railway authorities of an expanded pilot program for high-speed rail pet consignment services. Initially launched in April along the Beijing-Shanghai line, the program connected five stations and 10 trains. It has now expanded to cover 38 trains and 25 stations on eight high-speed rail lines. Among the 25 stations are Beijing West, Zhengzhou East, Wuhan, Changsha South, Guangzhou South, Shenzhen North, and Shenyang North.Under the program, each passenger is allowed to bring one healthy domesticated dog or cat, weighing no more than 15 kg and with a shoulder height under 40 cm.Passengers may book pet consignment services via the “Pet Consignment” (宠物托运)  feature on the 12306 railway app, though reservations must be made at least two days in advance.

Passengers can reserve pet consignment services via the “Pet Consignment” (宠物托运)  feature on the 12306 railway app.

When boarding, passengers are required to present their fur baby's identification, registration, and animal quarantine certificate.Pet passengers will be housed in a separate specially designed animal compartment equipped with air circulation, oxygen and humidity sensors, noise reduction, and odor control.Railway staff will conduct regular checks in intervals no longer than two hours and provide water as needed, but feeding and owner visits during the journey will not be permitted.As a reminder, passengers need to arrive at the station two to six hours before departure, and will be able to collect their pet within an hour of arrival — pick-up instructions will be sent via SMS or phone call.The cost of the journey for the pet is based on distance, ranging from 558-1258 yuan/pet (US$78-175). During the pilot phase a 30% discount will be applied. The current preferential fee for the Beijing-Shanghai route is 460 yuan per pet.For more information, please call hotlines 12306 and 95572 or inquire via the China Railway 12306 app.