China observes seven official holiday periods in 2026 — two matter most for travel planning
These are the official public holidays of the People's Republic of China (PRC), published yearly by China's State Council. For 2026: New Year, Spring Festival, Qingming, Labor Day, Dragon Boat, Mid-Autumn, and National Day.
Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) and National Day (Golden Week) are the two that most affect transport, crowds, and small-business closures for tourists.
Planning your trip around these dates
Spring Festival and Golden Week are the two windows that actually reshape a trip — transport can sell out and hotel prices climb well before the holiday starts, and major sights get busiest during the holiday itself. The other five holidays on the table below are milder and rarely require rescheduling a trip.
- If you are coming from Malaysia around Chinese New Year: Malaysia’s public holiday is typically two days, but mainland Spring Festival in 2026 is 15–23 February. Book the China-side train and hotel for that full window first — do not treat it like a two-day break at home.
- If dates overlap 1–7 October Golden Week, lock intercity trains before hotels; that week is the other sell-out window on this calendar.
2026 official holiday schedule
| Option | Dates | Length | Travel impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1–3 | 3 days | Minor for tourism — most businesses stay open. |
| Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) | February 15–23 | 9 days | The biggest one — see our dedicated Chinese New Year travel guide. |
| Qingming Festival | April 4–6 | 3 days | Moderate domestic travel bump; a family tomb-sweeping holiday. |
| Labor Day | May 1–5 | 5 days | A real domestic travel peak — book transport and hotels ahead if you overlap it. |
| Dragon Boat Festival | June 19–21 | 3 days | Moderate; regional dragon boat races draw local crowds in some cities. |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | September 25–27 | 3 days | Moderate domestic travel bump; a family holiday. |
| National Day (Golden Week) | October 1–7 | 7 days | The other big one — see our dedicated Golden Week guide. |
New Year's Day
- Dates
- January 1–3
- Length
- 3 days
- Travel impact
- Minor for tourism — most businesses stay open.
Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)
- Dates
- February 15–23
- Length
- 9 days
- Travel impact
- The biggest one — see our dedicated Chinese New Year travel guide.
Qingming Festival
- Dates
- April 4–6
- Length
- 3 days
- Travel impact
- Moderate domestic travel bump; a family tomb-sweeping holiday.
Labor Day
- Dates
- May 1–5
- Length
- 5 days
- Travel impact
- A real domestic travel peak — book transport and hotels ahead if you overlap it.
Dragon Boat Festival
- Dates
- June 19–21
- Length
- 3 days
- Travel impact
- Moderate; regional dragon boat races draw local crowds in some cities.
Mid-Autumn Festival
- Dates
- September 25–27
- Length
- 3 days
- Travel impact
- Moderate domestic travel bump; a family holiday.
National Day (Golden Week)
- Dates
- October 1–7
- Length
- 7 days
- Travel impact
- The other big one — see our dedicated Golden Week guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where do these dates come from?
China's General Office of the State Council, in an official notice on 2026 holiday arrangements published 2025-11-04. See the official source below.
Which holidays matter most for a tourist trip?
Spring Festival (Chinese New Year, Feb 15–23) and National Day / Golden Week (Oct 1–7) are the two big ones for transport crowding and small-business closures. The others are milder.
Do these dates apply to future years too?
No — this page covers 2026 only. China's holiday calendar is published fresh each year, and Spring Festival's date shifts with the lunar calendar. Check for an updated schedule when planning a different year.
Are these the only public holidays in China?
These are the nationally observed public holiday periods from the official notice. Some regions and ethnic groups observe additional local holidays not covered by this national schedule.
How far ahead should I book if my trip overlaps Spring Festival or Golden Week?
As early as you reasonably can — ideally 4-6 weeks ahead for transport and hotels if your dates fall inside either window, since both windows see prices climb and popular options sell out well before the holiday itself starts. See our dedicated Golden Week guide for a fuller booking checklist.
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