China is so diverse with so many sights, but how can you travel with your dog?
How to travel really depends on how far you are going and how many dogs you have.
Didi
Traveling within the city with dogs is fairly easy, I sometimes have three dogs I travel around with. When I have 1-2 dogs, I can take a Didi. This is very hit or miss even with one dog. I always call beforehand and tell the drivers I have a dog. Usually, they are okay with it, but I have been turned down by a few.
Tips for a hassle-free Didi ride:
- Call in advance and let the Didi driver know you have a dog
- Bring a blanket or towel for your dog to lay on, this eases the drivers worries about getting dog hair everywhere.
Huolala
Another option is Huolala (货拉拉), they are a moving company that can be called like a Didi. The cars you get in Huolala vary greatly, sometimes they will be nice vans and sometimes they will be run-down cargo vans. The whole point of getting a Huolala is to move furniture and big items, so the vans aren’t anything special. I’ve never been turned down by a Huolala. They usually like having the dogs because they don’t have to load or unload anything and prices are similar to Didi. The only problem with Huolala is that sometimes you may have to wait up to 20 minutes for a car. You can always prebook if you know your times and locations.
PawPaw
PawPaw or 萌爪出租车 in Chinese is a pet taxi service mini program on WeChat. Just search the Chinese name and you should be directed to this fairly easy to use program. The mini program is all in Chinese, but it’s not too complicated.
PawPaw will send dog-friendly taxis to take you where you need to go. These taxis need to be booked 2-3 hours in advance though. So, it’s really good if you have an appointment you need to get to, but less useful for people like me who take my dogs to brunch and never know where and when the day will end.
Travelling outside the city can be a bit harder. I have heard of people taking a Huolala or Didi from Shanghai to places like Hangzhou. There is also an app called Dida where people can book long-distance car rides and negotiate a price directly with the driver.
A couple of friends and I took a Dida from Shanghai to Anji with our dogs. Getting the Dida there wasn’t too hard, but because we were in the middle of nowhere it was hard getting one back. If you decide to use this option, make sure to prearrange a trip back. We ended up getting a ride back to Shanghai with a man in the town for a ridiculous price.
I have also taken a Dida from Shanghai to Hangzhou and back with no problems. If you go to bigger cities getting a Dida to and from should be fairly easy. Venturing into more rural areas can be problematic.
The best and most convenient option is to get your driver’s license or travel with someone who has theirs. Then you can make pit stops and don’t have to worry about finding a car that will allow your dogs. Renting a car is fairly cheap and easy.
I use the company Ehi whenever I have to rent a car, they are professional and have good prices.
Getting your drivers licensee in China is honestly a game changer. It allows you so much more freedom with your dogs. My dog, Hugo, and I did a summer road trip from Shanghai to Guizhou and made many stops along the way. Hugo has now been to 7 provinces, and it makes hiking trips so much easier.
Check out my article about how to get your license in China
