1.3 Which dates should I avoid when visiting China?

If you’re planning a trip to China, understanding the local holiday calendar is critical.
In particular, you’ll often hear about “Golden Weeks” – long public holidays when hundreds of millions of people travel at the same time.

During these periods:

Popular destinations are packed
Train and flight tickets are hard to get
Prices go up, and your overall experience can suffer a lot

Whenever possible, it’s best to avoid these dates entirely.

1. Overview: the main dates to avoid

China has both long holidays (Golden Weeks) and shorter public holidays. All holidays increase crowds, but Golden Weeks have the biggest impact.

Strongly recommended to avoid

National Day Golden Week
- Around October 1–7 every year
- One of the busiest travel weeks in the entire country
Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)
- Based on the lunar calendar, usually between late January and mid‑February
- China’s most important traditional festival and the world’s largest annual human migration

Ideally avoid if you can

Labour Day
- Around May 1, usually a 3–5 day holiday
- Many domestic travelers take short trips during this period.
Summer school holiday
- Roughly early July to late August
- Families travel a lot; popular attractions and theme parks can be very crowded.

Short holidays to keep an eye on

These are usually 3‑day breaks, but they still cause noticeable increases in visitors and transport demand:

Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day)
- Around April 4 or 5
Dragon Boat Festival
- 5th day of the 5th lunar month (roughly late May to June)
Mid‑Autumn Festival
- 15th day of the 8th lunar month (usually in September)
- Some years it’s combined with National Day, creating a “super Golden Week”.

If your travel dates are flexible, try to avoid landing in China or moving between cities on these key holiday days.

2. What “Golden Week” really feels like

Golden Weeks were originally created to stimulate consumption and domestic tourism by giving people longer breaks.
For international travelers, however, they often mean:

Packed tourist sites
Overloaded transport systems
Higher prices and lower service quality

Let’s look at the two major Golden Weeks in more detail.

3. National Day Golden Week (around October 1–7)

National Day (October 1) celebrates the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.
The week around it has become one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

What makes National Day so challenging?

Overcrowded attractions
- Major landmarks can be far beyond capacity.
- Tickets for popular spots may sell out in advance.
- You may find yourself stuck in slow‑moving crowds, making it hard to enjoy the scenery or take photos.
Transport under heavy pressure
- Train tickets – especially high‑speed train tickets – are snapped up quickly.
- Flight prices often jump to several times their off‑season level.
- Train stations, airports and highways can be extremely congested.
Accommodation shortages and price spikes
- Hotel prices in popular areas can rise 2–3 times.
- Budget and mid‑range hotels near scenic areas may be fully booked months in advance.
Service quality often drops
- Restaurants, tour operators and transport services are working at full capacity.
- Staff are under pressure; wait times increase and overall service can feel rushed.

Unless you have a very specific reason to travel during this period, it’s usually not worth it for a first-time visit.

4. Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) Golden Week

Spring Festival is China’s most important family holiday.
It triggers “Chunyun”, often described as the largest annual human migration on Earth.

Why travel is difficult around Chinese New Year

Chunyun: huge pressure on the transport system
- The rush starts about 1–2 weeks before the New Year and continues 2–3 weeks after.
- Trains and flights are heavily booked; tickets can be even harder to get than during National Day.
- Even with a ticket, stations and airports can be extremely crowded.
Cities empty out, businesses close
- In many big cities, a large portion of workers go back to their hometowns.
- Many shops and restaurants close for at least several days, sometimes longer.
- Service industries are understaffed, and it can be tricky to find good dining options.
Tourism patterns become polarized
- Some destinations, like Sanya (Hainan) or Harbin (for snow and ice), can be packed with domestic tourists.
- Meanwhile, cities like Beijing and Shanghai may feel unusually quiet, but many businesses are closed.
Festivals can be fascinating but exhausting
- Temple fairs, dragon and lion dances, and fireworks can be spectacular.
- However, crowds are intense, and it may be difficult to move around or fully enjoy the experience.

For most international visitors, Chinese New Year is better to avoid unless your main goal is specifically to experience the holiday itself – and you’re prepared for the crowds and closures.

5. Practical tips for international travelers

If possible, avoid:
- National Day Golden Week (around October 1–7)
- Spring Festival period (roughly from 1–2 weeks before to 2–3 weeks after Lunar New Year)
- Labour Day (around May 1) and summer school holidays (July–August), especially in hotspots
If your schedule is fixed and overlaps a holiday:
- Book transport and accommodation as early as you can – especially high‑speed trains and popular hotels.
- Consider staying in one city longer instead of moving around too much.
- Visit less famous attractions within a region instead of only the top 1–2 “must‑see” spots.
Check calendars carefully
- Always check a Chinese public holiday calendar for the year of your trip.
- Be aware that China sometimes “moves” workdays around holidays, which can create extra‑busy weekends.

If this is your first trip to China, and your goal is to travel smoothly and comfortably, the simplest rule is:

Try to visit in spring or autumn, and avoid Golden Weeks and major holidays as much as your schedule allows.