In combination with the transportation of tropical fruit durian on the China/Kunming-Laos/Vientiane Railway, the respiratory intensity of durian at 5 ℃, 10 ℃, 15 ℃ and 25 ℃ is tested. CO₂ respiratory intensity at 25 ℃ is 107.51 mg/(kg·h), which is three times of 33.11 mg/(kg·h) at 5 ℃. Based on the results of respiratory intensity testing, the heat transfer of the box under typical operating conditions such as pre cooling, empty box cooling and railway transportation when loading durian was analyzed and calculated. Under the pre-cooling condition of loading durian, the total heat transfer is the highest, about 14.6 kW. Durian respiratory heat is the main source of heat, accounting for 80.49%, and the corresponding required cooling capacity is 16.8 kW. Further calculation and analysis are conducted on the impact of key parameters such as the comprehensive heat transfer coefficient of the box, external environmental temperature, and durian respiration intensity on the cooling capacity.