China's railway authorities have launched pet consignment and luggage delivery services on high-speed railways along designated routes during the ongoing Spring Festival travel rush, making journeys lighter and more convenient than ever for passengers. For pet owners, traveling with animals during the country's annual travel rush -- also known as "Chunyun" and often described as the world's largest human migration -- has long been a challenge, with crowded carriages and heavy luggage adding to the strain.
This year, however, the situation has changed. High-speed rail pet transport services are being piloted at 110 stations and across 170 train routes nationwide. In addition, 111 stations now offer luggage delivery from passengers' homes to railway stations or even to their final destinations, allowing travelers to go hands-free.
"When I searched for pet consignment on the social media platform Xiaohongshu, many people were recommending the high-speed rail service, saying it's new -- and fast," said a passenger who had decided to try the pet transport service.
Pets will be placed in specialized transport containers equipped with ventilation and real-time monitoring systems for temperature, humidity, and oxygen levels. During transit, staff can monitor the animals using the containers' built-in sensors and cameras, ensuring their safety without disrupting other passengers.
"This container was developed by China Railway Express Co., Ltd. All materials used are eco-friendly, and it's fitted with monitors for humidity, temperature, and oxygen concentration. There's also a camera inside, so we can check on the pet at any time," said Cheng Yan, a manager at the company.
Staff members regularly patrol the pet carriages to replenish fresh, clean water and check on the animals. Cats and dogs are carefully looked after throughout the journey, giving pet owners peace of mind.
"Oxygen levels and humidity are all normal. The cat is sleeping now. We monitor everything in real time from the control center," said Cheng while showing how the container's real-time monitoring system operates. During the Spring Festival rush, more cities and routes have been added to the pet transport services. However, booking slots still fill up quickly.
"Since the start of Chunyun, pet transport orders have tripled or quadrupled compared to normal times. We plan to increase train frequencies and expand to more cities," said Cheng. What has made the service widely popular is the quality of care pets receive throughout the journey.
"This is an emergency vent. There's another one down here. Depending on the weather and how sealed the carriage is, we open them when needed," said Ma Tao, a manager at the Zhengzhou Branch of China Railway Express Co., Ltd., while demonstrating how the container's ventilation system works.
"I traveled by high-speed rail on the way here, and I'm taking it back too. High-speed rail is just much friendlier for pets," said a pet owner.
China’s high-speed rail offers lighter, smarter travel options for passengers with pets
South China's Guangdong Province is accelerating its transformation into an international medical tourism hub, positioning itself as a destination for patients worldwide seeking affordable, high-quality care.
The push follows a joint initiative announced in late March by nine Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, aimed at boosting spending by foreign tourists and enhancing exports of tourism services as part of broader efforts to expand the country's service sector.
Every day, some of the most complex surgeries are performed here. Li Zilun, deputy director of the division of vascular surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, is among the doctors capable of carrying out these intricate procedures.
He recently completed surgery on a patient with an aortic aneurysm, a condition often described as a "time bomb" in the body’s main artery, increasingly common in aging societies around the globe. Li also specializes in highly difficult and pioneering procedures, including repairing leaks caused by failed grafts.
"This was a very challenging case. And then, we implanted the covered stent to eliminate the endoleak. Actually, the outcome was pretty good. The patient will be discharged today," said Li Zilun.
The ability to handle such complex cases -- combining international techniques with domestically produced devices -- is drawing patients from around the world to seek treatment. In addition, high safety standards and low costs are also major draws.
"Our government is encouraging innovation. So, lots of physicians -- including our vascular surgeons -- we are actively involved in the innovation that helps to increase the effectiveness and safety, and also bring down the cost," said Li.
This hospital is one of the first in Guangdong to be designated by the provincial health commission as a pilot site for building an international medical service hub.
The growing number of patients has pushed the hospital to explore new ways to transform every step -- from treatment to payment and everything in between -- into a seamless experience, reducing waiting times and delivering better care for patients.
"I think it's fast. When the patient come here for just about, I think, one week, you can solve the problem," said Xiao Haipeng, president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.
The hospital is also deepening its international cooperation with top-tier medical institutions, including those at Harvard University.
"Not just for China, for the whole globe, we are facing health care challenges -- emerging infectious disease and chronic, lung infectious diseases, and also the aging population, also the shortage of healthcare workforce," said Xiao.
In response to these challenges, China is promoting its own solutions, including aggressive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows, while stepping up research and development investment and global engagement along the way.
"In recent years, the innovation in Western medicine is dramatically growing. An example of my hospital -- in the past few years, we have 140 innovations and seven of them are international leading innovations," said Xiao.
As global demand for medical tourism grows, China is positioning itself as a new destination. Official data shows that the number of foreign patients in Guangdong increased by 20 percent last year. Among them, the growth in inpatient admissions was even faster, rising by 76 percent.
Guangdong fast-tracks pilot for int'l medical service hub
