What's it like traveling China during Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year falls sometime between late January and mid-February each year, following the lunar calendar. Check the specific dates for your travel year — see our public holidays page for the current year's schedule.

Not everything — but many small, family-run restaurants and shops do close for several days around the holiday, and staff shortages can affect service even at places that stay open. Major attractions and larger businesses generally stay operational.

This is the single largest annual travel period in the world by volume. Domestic flights and high-speed rail sell out well in advance — book any travel that overlaps this window as early as possible.

Decorations, fireworks (where locally permitted), family gatherings, and a genuinely different atmosphere make this a memorable time to be in China if you go in with the right expectations and a flexible itinerary.