Pet Funerals in China
Most pet funerals in China are small, simple and arranged within a day or two. We explain the local options in plain English and can email you choices that fit.
- A simple running order you can print
- Graveside and home ceremony guidance
- Help with timing around the weather
China
Pet Funerals in China: what to know
Families across China are holding more considered goodbyes for their pets than a generation ago, from viewings before cremation to online memorials for relatives abroad. Use this page for the national picture, then open your city for local detail, or tell us what you're planning and we'll email options.
Whether you live in one of the big cities, such as Shanghai and Beijing, or somewhere much smaller, a pet farewell in China comes down to three decisions: where it happens, who's there and what happens afterwards. This page explains how each works here, with real published prices and the local rules.
We cover 2 communities in China, from Shanghai and Beijing.
Funeral traditions in China and your pet
About 50%[1] of people in China are cremated, so both traditions sit side by side here. Some families will instinctively want to bury their pet, others to bring the ashes home. A farewell works with either: a graveside moment in the garden or a pet cemetery, or a short ceremony before the pet is collected for cremation.
The cremation figure for China comes from Wikipedia: Cremation by country (2019). It counts people, not pets, so treat it as a guide to local attitudes rather than a pet statistic.
Pet farewell prices for China families
Public and private options can differ hugely. Tokyo's Shinjuku ward collects pets under 25 kg for a JPY 3,000 fee with communal cremation and no ashes returned [2]; a private communal cremation for a small pet costs about 4.8 times that, by our estimate [3]. In one Japanese survey, about 30% of owners felt a funeral would help them avoid regret [4].
Package names vary a lot across Asia, and a 'communal' package may exclude the farewell ceremony entirely. Before comparing prices in China, ask three things: is my pet cremated alone, are the ashes returned, and is there time for a ceremony or prayers beforehand? The table shows published examples from the region.
| Place and service | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo: witnessed cremation, 20–30 kg dog | JPY 60,500 [5] | Attended, with a monk chanting |
| Tokyo: individual cremation, 20–30 kg dog | JPY 38,500 [5] | Without attending |
| Japan: pet funeral hall package | JPY 60,000 to 80,000 [6] | Ceremony and cremation, 1–5 kg to 25–30 kg pet |
| Singapore: private cremation, 10–20 kg dog | SGD 480 [7] | Columbarium niche from SGD 300 |
| Hong Kong: individual cremation, 20–30 kg dog | HKD 3,000 [8] | Check whether a farewell ceremony is included |
If a number here surprises you, the primary material is Tokyo Animal Memorial Park (東京動物霊園) and Singapore Pet Columbarium; we only apply it to this.
Free tool
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
What China allows for burial and scattering
Your city, county or local council can set tighter rules than China as a whole, especially for small suburban lots and land near drinking water supplies. A short call to the local environmental health or planning office settles it. The regional picture follows.
Planning a farewell in China, step by step
- Choose a day while your pet still has good moments, then arrange the vet's visit to the house and agree what happens afterwards, all in one call.
- Fill the days before with small favorites: an unhurried walk, a sunny spot on the floor, the food they're normally not allowed.
- Decide who will hold your pet and who would rather wait in another room. Both are loving choices, and nobody should be talked into either.
- Set out the blanket you're happy to send with them, with any drawing, note or toy that should go into the cremation or grave too.
- When the vet has finished, take as long as you need. The collection can wait an hour; ask them to step outside if you want privacy.
- Walk out to the car or van with your pet should you want to. Teams often carry pets on a basket or stretcher and are glad to let you take one end.
Marking the loss, now and later
If scattering matters to you, keep a little of the ashes back in a keepsake urn before you scatter the rest. That way, a move, a change of heart or a new family member doesn't leave anyone without something to hold. Scatter quietly, downwind and away from paths, and check the rules for the place you choose.
Compare every option on our services page, try the free planning tools or see how other readers answered in our polls. You can also go back to all locations.
Reader polls
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Free tools to help you plan
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Farewell & memorial service planner
Build a simple goodbye: who, where, readings, rituals and a checklist.
Aftercare options compared
Compare private, communal and water cremation with burial on cost, timing and what comes home.
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit to hold a pet funeral in China?
Not for the farewell itself. Gathering at home, saying a few words and holding a small ceremony need no permission anywhere in China. Permits come into it for what happens next: burial on someone else's land, scattering in parks, on beaches or on water, and any use of a public space for a larger gathering. When in doubt, ask the landowner or the local council first.
How many communities do you cover in China?
We have local pet funeral guides for 2 communities in China, including Shanghai and Beijing. Each page covers local weather and timing for outdoor farewells, typical costs, burial and scattering rules and how to plan a goodbye within a day.
Where can I scatter my pet's ashes in China?
Private land with the owner's permission is simplest. Parks, beaches and public land have their own rules, and many ask you to request permission first. Choose a quiet spot, scatter low and downwind, away from paths and water, and consider keeping a little back in a keepsake.
How long does it take to get my pet's ashes back in China?
Usually one to two weeks for a private cremation, though it varies by provider and country. In the US, 5–10 days is commonly quoted [10], while Swedish vets say two to four weeks is normal [11]. Some crematories offer same-day or next-day return for an extra fee. Ask for a date when you book, and plan any gathering for after it.
What does a pet funeral cost in China compared with the US?
Prices differ by country and currency, but the pattern is the same: individual cremation costs more than communal, a cemetery grave more than cremation, and a farewell room or attended service adds to either. Published examples for China are in the table above; ask local providers for a written quote.
Can I be present at my pet's cremation in China?
Many crematories offer witnessed or attended cremation, especially around the larger cities. It usually costs more and needs booking ahead. In rural parts of China, the nearest crematory that offers it may be some distance away, so ask your vet which one they use and call it directly.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] China's cremation rate passed 50% for the first time in 2019. Wikipedia: Cremation by country, 2019.
- [2] Tokyo's Shinjuku City collects dead pets under 25 kg for a fee of JPY 3,000 per animal; they receive communal cremation and burial at a pet cemetery and ashes are not returned. Shinjuku City (Tokyo) - Animal carcass collection (動物死体の引き取り), 2025.
- [3] In Tokyo, private communal pet cremation for a small pet (JPY 14,300) costs about 4.8x the ward's municipal collection fee (JPY 3,000). Our estimate: 14,300 / 3,000 = 4.77. How we calculate.
- [4] A 2023 Suncelmo survey of 391 Japanese pet owners found about 30% believed holding a funeral would help them avoid regret. The Japan News via Asia News Network - As pets become more like family, more owners in Japan are opting for elaborate funerals (Apr 2025), 2023.
- [5] Tokyo Animal Memorial Park charges JPY 30,800 communal, JPY 38,500 individual and JPY 60,500 witnessed (attended, with monk chanting) cremation for a 20-30 kg dog. Tokyo Animal Memorial Park (東京動物霊園) - Price list, 2026.
- [6] A Japanese pet funeral hall example charges about JPY 60,000 for a 1-5 kg pet and JPY 80,000 for a 25-30 kg pet (funeral package). The Japan News via Asia News Network - As pets become more like family, more owners in Japan are opting for elaborate funerals (Apr 2025), 2025.
- [7] The same Singapore provider lists private cremation at SGD 280 for a cat under 5 kg and SGD 480 for a 10-20 kg dog; columbarium niches start at SGD 300 for the first year with SGD 180 yearly renewal. Singapore Pet Columbarium - Prices, 2026.
- [8] A Hong Kong provider lists basic individual cremation at HKD 1,300 for a 1-5 kg pet and HKD 3,000 for a 20-30 kg dog. PETMENTO (Hong Kong pet funeral provider) - Pet funeral price list, 2026.
- [9] A full Hartsdale pet burial costs about 28 times as much as an average pet cremation. Our estimate: USD 7,000 / USD 250. How we calculate.
- [10] A US aftercare guide says many families receive private cremation ashes within about one to two weeks, with 5-10 days commonly quoted. Funeral.com - Pet Cremation Timelines: How Long Until Ashes Are Returned, 2026.
- [11] AniCura Sweden says it normally takes 2-4 weeks for ashes to be returned, sometimes longer. AniCura Sverige - Avlivning och kremering hund, 2026.
Get pet farewell options in China
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.