China Holidays 2026

If you are planning a trip to China in 2026, public holidays are not just dates on a calendar. They change how the country moves. Trains fill up. Hotels jump in price. Some days feel normal, others feel overwhelming.

I’ve traveled in China both during holidays and outside them. The difference is huge. This page is not about memorizing dates. It’s about understanding which ones will shape your trip, and whether you want that experience or not.

How Holidays Work in Practice

China has official public holidays, but the important part is how people use them. To create long breaks, weekends are shifted around. People might work a Saturday to get a full week off later.

When a long holiday starts, a large part of the country moves at once. That is when things get intense. Short holidays are usually fine. Long ones change everything.

Spring Festival (February 15–23)

This is Chinese New Year, and nothing else comes close.

People travel home to family, often across the country. Train tickets disappear fast. Airports are packed. Even locals avoid traveling unless they have to.

My honest take:
If this is your first trip to China and you want to move between cities, avoid this period. If you stay in one city and accept slower days, it can still work. But if your plan involves trains every few days, it becomes tiring very quickly.

National Day Golden Week (October 1–7)

This is the other big one, and the one many visitors underestimate.

Everything is open, which sounds good, but everywhere is busy. Famous sights are crowded from opening to closing. Hotels raise prices. Trains sell out days or weeks ahead.

Clear opinion:
If you have flexibility, do not plan your first China trip in early October. If October is your only option, pick fewer places and avoid famous landmarks during peak hours.

Labor Day (May 1–5)

This is busy, but not chaotic.

You will notice more domestic tourists, especially in popular cities. Prices go up, but transport still works if you book ahead.

This can be okay if you plan properly and don’t expect quiet sightseeing.

Qingming, Dragon Boat, Mid-Autumn

These are shorter holidays spread through the year.

They bring some extra movement, but nothing extreme. I’ve traveled during these periods without major issues. Stations are busier, but manageable. Hotels might be slightly more expensive, but not crazy.

If you want a balance between decent weather and tolerable crowds, these holidays are not deal-breakers.

What If You Are Already Booked During a Holiday

Sometimes the dates are locked in. That happens.

I once traveled during a holiday week and made the mistake of moving cities on the first day. The train station was packed, lines were long, and everything took twice as long as expected. Two days later, things were noticeably calmer.

What I would do differently now:

• Stay in one city during the core holiday days
• Avoid traveling on day one and the last day
• Use taxis or DiDi inside the city instead of packed metro lines
• Visit sights early in the morning, or skip the famous ones entirely

It’s not about seeing less. It’s about not fighting the country while it’s on the move.

Practical Things That Actually Help

• Trains: Use 12306 or Trip.com. Book as early as possible during holidays.
• Maps: Baidu Maps or Amap work better than Google Maps in China.
• Translation: Offline Chinese in Google Translate saves time in stations and restaurants.
• Mindset: Build buffer time. Assume delays. Don’t plan tight connections.

These are small things, but they matter more during busy periods.

Conclusion

China in 2026 is very travelable, but timing matters. Spring Festival in February and National Day in October are intense and not ideal for a first trip unless you know what you are getting into. Shorter holidays are easier to handle and often fine with basic planning.