Pets take to the roads and air with their owners

Package tours

As there are restrictions on traveling with pets on buses, subways, trains and airplanes, most owners travel with their animals by car. However, some choose specialized package tours.

Zhang Shaopeng, founder of Lechonglexing, a dogs' travel platform based in Beijing that was established in 2018, said the company's trips include visits to grasslands, beaches, mountains, wetlands and lakes. Private bookings are also available for dogs to visit aquariums and amusement parks.

Trips range from one or two days for nearby attractions, to three days or more for visits to destinations such as Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Gansu province, Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, and Sanya, Hainan province.

For destinations relatively close to Beijing, the company arranges buses, with a 50-seater vehicle usually only carrying about 15 passengers to give dogs more room for exercise and avoid poor air quality.

For remote destinations, chartered flights for pets are available, with dogs placed in pet carriers inside the aircraft cabin with their owners.

Before they travel, the company inquires about the dogs' personalities and health status. For example, dogs in heat and those that are aggressive are not allowed to go on a tour, to ensure the safety of other dogs, and those with heart problems are not allowed to go to high-altitude areas. A doctor accompanies the dogs throughout a trip.