Pet-friendly travel in China is moving from novelty to structured service as "traveling with pets" continues to gain popularity.
Railways, hotels, tour operators and parks have gradually established formal regulations to allow pets to travel with their owners.
"I feel that the overall policies regarding traveling with pets are moving toward a very positive direction. For instance, public transportation including ride-hailing services is becoming increasingly open and much more inclusive," said Wang Huanbin, a travel blogger in Beijing.
China released the Management Service Standard for Pet-Friendly Tourism Spaces in December to standardize the pet travel services in scenic spots and hotels. It has also launched smart platforms to provide guidance and support for travelers with pets.
"The integration of traditional pet industry and traditional tourism will create a vast blue ocean market. We released the Management Service Standard in December to address challenges in safety, hygiene and disease prevention. This year, we launched another plan to promote the opening of tourism spaces for families with pets and built a pet-friendly smart platform offering digital identity registration services," said Li Dexin, an official of the China Chamber of Tourism.
Data showed that the urban dog and cat consumer market in China exceeded 310 billion yuan in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 4.1 percent. It is estimated that approximately 70 percent of pet owners are willing to travel with their pets.
Pet-friendly travel in China moves from novelty to structured service
