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Veterinary care in China varies widely by city. Here is how to find a reputable, English-speaking vet, along with trusted clinic recommendations in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu for everything from vaccinations to pet export.
The quality of veterinary care varies considerably in China, but as a whole, the Chinese pet market is quite young, and veterinary services have a way to go to catch up with the care offered in the West.
Large, Tier 1 cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou offer the highest quality of care at a range of facilities around the city, while lower-tier cities may not have more than a handful of truly qualified vets.
At minimum, look for a plaque that states the vet’s “Animal Rabies Vaccination Clinic” status to ensure your vet is an official clinic for government-approved vaccinations. Preferably, you can also find a vet that has Western training and treats your pet in a professional and caring manner in sanitary facilities.
It’s also good to know which facilities offer 24-hour emergency services in your area. Ask local pet groups on WeChat which vets they trust and check out the recommendations below. This matters because China’s private vet sector is lightly regulated and clinics set their own prices, so a recommendation from people who have actually used a clinic is the most reliable filter.
Key Takeaways
- Veterinary care in China is improving fast but still lags Western standards, especially outside major cities.
- Tier 1 cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou have the best clinics and the widest choice.
- Always check that a vet holds official Animal Rabies Vaccination Clinic status before trusting it.
- Look for clinics with Western-trained, English-speaking staff and clean, professional facilities.
- Ask local WeChat pet groups which vets they trust, since the private vet sector is largely unregulated.
- Know which clinics near you offer 24-hour emergency care before you actually need it.
- If you plan to leave China with your pet, use a clinic licensed for export rabies vaccines like ICVS in Beijing.
- Premium international clinics cost more but are still usually cheaper than the same care back home.
ICVS
ICVS is a full-service pet care facility in Beijing with licensed doctors who have Western training and services in Mandarin and English. They are also licensed for the rabies vaccines needed for exporting your pet out of China and can be a valuable resource with their regular workshops in English on the export process.
PAW Veterinary Clinic
PAW Veterinary Clinic is a full-service, high-end veterinary clinic that can handle everything from check-ups, to surgeries, to vaccines. Their on-location stores have a great range of pet products, and they run an after-hours emergency hotline in Mandarin and English. Facilities at their Pudong and Huangpu locations in Shanghai are impressive, and the care is top quality. Just keep in mind that these premiums often mean higher prices. Still, expat pet owners consistently report that even at top-tier clinics like this, the final bill tends to be a fraction of what the same treatment would cost back home.
Vet AnAn
Vet AnAn is a Chinese vet clinic chain in Shanghai that has a reputation for providing reliable care at a lower cost. They excel at handling common needs like rabies vaccinations, deworming and flea treatments, spaying and neutering, and other common surgeries, as well as blood tests and labs. The Changning and Putuo locations are closest to the city center, but there are many other locations further out as well.
Jin Sha Glory Vet Clinics
This Canadian-founded clinic is a great example of how quality care is making its way out of Beijing and Shanghai and can be found in smaller cities in China. Chengdu long-term expat Paul Schuster has practiced veterinary medicine since 1993 and has extensive experience in pet medicine while speaking English, Mandarin, and German.
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