Traveling China During Chinese New Year: What to Expect (2025)

Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) is China's biggest holiday—and the world's largest annual human migration. Hundreds of millions of people travel home. The country transforms.

Should you visit during this time? Here's the complete picture.

When Is Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar, falling between January 21 and February 20:

Year	Chinese New Year	Animal
2025	January 29	Snake
2026	February 17	Horse
2027	February 6	Goat

The holiday period:

• Official holiday: 7-8 days
• Practical impact: 2-3 weeks
• Peak travel: Week before and after New Year's Eve

The Pros of Visiting

Unique Cultural Experience

Nowhere else can you experience Spring Festival like in China:

• Fireworks and firecrackers (in cities that allow them)
• Temple fairs with traditional performances
• Red decorations everywhere
• Lion and dragon dances
• Traditional foods (dumplings, fish, niangao)
• Red envelope tradition (hongbao)

It's festive, colorful, and genuinely special.

Fewer Tourists at Major Sites

Ironically, some tourist attractions are less crowded:

• Foreign tourists avoid this period
• Chinese tourists are home with family
• Major sites like Forbidden City can be quieter
• Some days offer rare empty-ish experiences

Experience Local Celebrations

If invited to join a Chinese family:

• Authentic cultural immersion
• Home-cooked feast
• Generational traditions
• Unforgettable memories

Photography Opportunities

• Red lanterns everywhere
• Traditional decorations
• Empty streets on key days
• Festive markets
• Night celebrations

The Cons of Visiting

Transportation Chaos

This is serious. The "Chunyun" (春运) migration involves 3+ billion trips:

Expect:

• Sold-out trains (especially before New Year)
• Crowded stations beyond imagination
• Expensive, scarce flights
• Full buses
• Traffic jams

Booking:

• Book trains 15+ days in advance (they release 15 days ahead)
• Book flights weeks or months ahead
• Expect higher prices on everything

Many Things Are Closed

Closed or limited:

• Most restaurants (especially small ones)
• Shops and stores
• Local businesses
• Some tourist attractions
• Many hotels' restaurants
• Normal life basically stops

Usually open:

• Major tourist attractions (reduced hours)
• Hotel chains
• Some tourist-focused restaurants
• Chain stores (7-Eleven, etc.)
• Emergency services

Cities Feel Empty

Migrant workers (who power Chinese cities) go home. Cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing can feel eerily quiet:

• Fewer services available
• Restaurants harder to find
• Limited delivery options
• Some neighborhoods feel deserted

Prices Increase

• Domestic flights: 50-200% more expensive
• Hotels in some areas: Higher rates
• Some services charge holiday premiums

Day-by-Day: What to Expect

Week Before New Year

• Transport extremely crowded
• Departure rush from cities
• Shopping frenzy
• Decorations going up
• Businesses starting to close

New Year's Eve (除夕)

• Family reunion dinner time
• Most restaurants closed
• Fireworks at midnight (where legal)
• Streets quiet as families gather
• TV: The CCTV Gala (China's Super Bowl)

New Year's Day (初一)

• Quietest day—families at home
• Almost everything closed
• Streets deserted
• Not much for tourists to do

Days 2-5 (初二-初五)

• Temple fairs begin
• Families visit relatives
• Some tourist sites reopen
• Cities still quiet
• Gradually more activity

Days 6-7 (初六-初七)

• People start returning to cities
• Transport crowded again
• More businesses reopen
• Cities coming back to life

Lantern Festival (元宵节)

• 15 days after New Year
• Final celebration
• Lantern displays
• Sweet rice balls (tangyuan)
• Marks end of Spring Festival

Best Places to Experience CNY

Beijing

• Temple fairs at Ditan, Longtan
• Ice lanterns if cold enough
• Forbidden City less crowded
• Traditional Hutong celebrations

Shanghai

• Yu Garden Lantern Festival
• Quieter than usual city
• Some good temple fairs
• International community stays (restaurants open)

Harbin

• Ice Festival ongoing
• Snow sculptures
• Cold but magical
• Fireworks on ice

Southern China (Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau)

• Warmer weather
• Flower markets
• More things stay open
• Hong Kong has major celebrations

Pingyao, Xi'an

• Traditional old-town feeling
• Less commercial celebrations
• Authentic festival atmosphere

Survival Tips

Book Everything Early

• Flights: 1-2 months ahead
• Trains: Exactly 15 days before (set an alarm)
• Hotels: 2-3 weeks ahead
• Tours/attractions: Week ahead

Have Backup Food Plans

• Stock your hotel room with snacks
• Know which restaurants near you will be open
• Hotel restaurants often serve meals
• Convenience stores usually open
• Western fast food sometimes open

Accept Different Pace

• Don't try to see too much
• Embrace the quiet
• Use empty attraction time
• Rest and enjoy the atmosphere

Stay Flexible

• Plans may need to change
• Be okay with "closed" signs
• Have alternatives ready
• Go with the flow

Communication

• WeChat essential (arrange with contacts)
• Download offline entertainment
• Book anything requiring reservation early

Is It Worth It?

Yes, if:

• You want unique cultural experience
• You're flexible and patient
• You've booked transport well in advance
• You're okay with closed restaurants
• You're invited to join a Chinese family
• You want to photograph festivals

No, if:

• You want a typical tourist experience
• You're on a tight schedule
• You need specific services available
• You get frustrated by closures
• You haven't booked transport yet
• First-time visitor wanting "standard" China

Practical Details

What's Open (Usually)

• Major attractions (Forbidden City, Great Wall, etc.)
• International hotels
• Chain coffee shops (Starbucks, etc.)
• Convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart)
• Some tourist restaurants
• Airports and train stations
• Emergency services

What's Closed (Usually)

• Local restaurants
• Small shops
• Markets
• Many attractions in smaller cities
• Government offices
• Banks (limited hours)
• Most businesses

Getting Around

Trains:

• Book exactly 15 days ahead at 8 AM China time
• Use Trip.com or 12306 app
• Consider alternate routes
• First class more available than second

Flights:

• Book early
• Expect high prices
• International flights less affected
• Domestic very expensive

Within cities:

• Metro usually runs (reduced hours)
• Didi available (fewer drivers)
• Taxis harder to find
• Walking your best bet

The Verdict

Chinese New Year offers an extraordinary cultural experience that's unlike any other time in China. But it requires acceptance that normal tourist infrastructure doesn't function.

Best approach: Short trip (3-5 days), focused on experiencing the festival itself rather than sightseeing, with everything booked well ahead.

Or avoid it entirely and visit another time.

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Planning any China trip? The China Survival Kit includes holiday calendars, booking guides, and practical tips for navigating China any time of year.