Golden Week and Public Holidays in China: When to Travel and When to Avoid It
Nothing affects a trip to China as much as the national holiday calendar, and very few foreign travelers take it into account when planning. During Golden Week, hundreds of millions of people travel within the country at the same time, which can turn a perfectly planned itinerary into a series of sold-out trains and tourist sights impossible to enjoy.
This guide explains how China's holiday calendar works and how to decide whether to travel during those dates or avoid them altogether.
In this article:
- What Golden Week is and why it brings the country to a standstill
- The national holiday calendar
- How make-up workdays work
- When it does make sense to travel during holidays
- Alternatives if you want to avoid the crowds
What Golden Week Is and Why It Brings the Country to a Standstill
China has two main "golden weeks": National Day, in early October, and Chinese New Year, between January and February depending on the lunar calendar. During these periods most of the country is on holiday at the same time, which creates one of the largest internal migrations on the planet.
The result is predictable: the main tourist destinations get several times their usual crowds, trains on popular routes sell out weeks in advance, and hotel prices at tourist destinations rise considerably.
The National Holiday Calendar
Chinese New Year (春节): between late January and mid-February, depending on the lunar calendar. It's the most important holiday of the year, with the country's largest internal migration, as millions of people return to their hometowns.
National Day (国庆节): the first week of October, the Golden Week that matters most for tourism, since it coincides with good weather across much of the country.
Shorter holidays: the Qingming Festival, Labor Day (May), the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival also create short holiday periods, with less impact than the two main golden weeks but still noticeable at popular destinations.
How Make-Up Workdays Work
A feature of the Chinese system that surprises many visitors: the "extra" days off that make up the full holiday week are compensated by working on weekends before or after the holiday.
That means that even if the calendar shows seven consecutive days off, one or two nearby Saturdays or Sundays may become normal working days to make up for it. If you're coordinating activities with local contacts during these dates, it's worth checking the official calendar for that specific year, which the State Council publishes every year, since the exact pattern varies (2026 example).
When It Does Make Sense to Travel During Holidays
It's not all downsides. Traveling during certain holidays, with the right expectations, has its own appeal:
To experience the cultural atmosphere. Chinese New Year in particular transforms the cities: decorations, special markets and a festive mood you won't find at any other time of year.
If your destination isn't a mass tourist hotspot. Cities and regions less popular with Chinese domestic tourists can stay quiet even during Golden Week, while the big tourist icons get overwhelmed.
If your itinerary is flexible and unhurried. If you can move around without relying on last-minute bookings and you enjoy a lively, crowded atmosphere, you can have a good time even in the middle of the crowds.
Alternatives If You Want to Avoid the Crowds
Travel just before or just after the holiday. The days immediately before or after a Golden Week usually see much less movement than the week itself, while the weather and season are much the same.
Choose secondary destinations. Second-tier cities, less known outside China but just as culturally rich, almost never get as packed as Beijing, Shanghai or Xi'an during these dates.
Book very far ahead if there's no alternative. If the holiday dates are unavoidable, booking trains and hotels as soon as the booking window opens (usually 15 days ahead for trains, on the official 12306 platform) is the only realistic way to secure good options.
The simplest rule: if you can choose, avoid the first week of October and the two weeks around Chinese New Year for popular tourist destinations. If you can't avoid them, plan much further ahead than you would at any other time of year.