Planning a trip to China? The timing of your visit is crucial. To ensure your journey is enjoyable rather than exhausting, it's highly recommended to avoid traveling during China's major national holidays. During these periods, the experience can shift from cultural immersion to navigating overwhelming crowds and paying a premium for almost everything.
Here's a quick guide to the key dates you should mark in your calendar and avoid traveling to China during these periods
Golden Weeks
The most challenging times to travel are the two "Golden Weeks." These are national holidays where most of the population gets a full week off, triggering the largest annual mass migrations in China.
Chinese New Year: 8-day holiday
The date of the Chinese New Year varies each year (late January to mid-February) depending on the Chinese calendar. This is the most important family holiday in China. Hundreds of millions of people travel to their hometowns for reunions. Transportation, especially trains and flights, is booked solid months in advance. Ticket prices will skyrocket, and major tourist sites are packed with domestic travelers.
National Day: 7-day holiday
Every year from Oct. 1 to 7 is the Chinese National Day. This holiday is a popular time for domestic tourism, meaning every major attraction experiences unimaginable crowds. If you travel to China during these periods, you should expect long queues and significantly inflated prices for travel expenses.
Other Holidays to Be Aware Of
While not as universally disruptive as the Golden Weeks, these holidays still see a significant surge in domestic travel.
New Year: 1-day holiday
Like all other countries in the world, Jan. 1 is the day that people celebrate the New Year. Although the New Year holiday only lasts for one day in China, hotel prices are usually pretty high on this day.
Labor Day: 5-day holiday
Labor Day is on May 1 every year, and the holiday lasts for 5 days. There is still a noticeable spike in travel and crowds during this period.
Qingming Festival: 3-day holiday
The Qingming Festival is on either April 4, 5, or 6, which varies every year depending on the Chinese calendar. While it's a time for families to honor ancestors, it also sees a surge in short-distance travel and crowded tourist spots.
Dragon Boat Festival: 3-day holiday
The Dragon Boat Festival is on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese calendar, which is usually in June. Similar to Qingming, it leads to busy domestic travel and crowded destinations.
Mid-Autumn Festival: 3-day holiday
The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar, which typically falls in late September or early October. It is the time for a family reunion, so people tend to travel back home during this time.
(Editor: Ella Qu)
Related News:
Chinapedia｜HK's Halloween 2025 Guide: From haunted houses to monster party
Chinapedia | Longfeng Gua vs. Xiuhe Fu: A tale of two Chinese bridal gowns
Comment