Travel within China during the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. Here we've rounded up some travel tips to help you enjoy a smooth trip during Chinese New Year period.
On the Plus Side — Cultural Activities
It is one of the best times of the year to "rub shoulders" with the Chinese people. The Chinese tend to be open and friendly, but they are even more so during the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays, a time when everyone except for the most essential staff enjoy a week's paid vacation. You might consider celebrating with a Chinese family.
The opportunities to "rub shoulders" with the Chinese people are indeed many, given the many cultural activities that take place during this period. The best places to watch these cultural activities are Beijing and Hong Kong. See The Best Cities for Chinese New Year.
Recommended Chinese New Year Destinations and Tours
Beijing
It is the best place to feel the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) atmosphere and experience traditional Chinese New Year activities. Beijing tours recommendations:
Harbin
You can experience the Spring Festival and Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival at the same time. See our recommended Harbin tours:
- 7-Day Harbin, Yabuli, China Snow Town, and Jilin Tour
- 5-Day Harbin and China Snow Town Tour
- More Harbin tours
Guizhou
Celebrate New Year with local ethnic people, have an opportunity to attend their local ethnic festivals, and discover local Miao culture. Recommended Guizhou tour:
All our tours are customizable. Contact us if you have any questions or other requirements.
On the Less Positive Side — Crowded and Shops Closed ...
Crowded Transport
It must be said that there are large crowds in transit everywhere in China at this time of year, particularly at all of the major transportation hubs such as airports, railway stations, and bus terminals.
Certain popular flights may be sold out, trains in general are likely to be sold out a week ahead or more, and even regional and local buses are overcrowded. Train tickets are very hard to get.
If you plan to travel during the Chinese New Year period, China Highlights recommends you travel by flight. Contact us to arrange your New Year trip in advance — be fully-prepared for everything in a hassle-free way.
Shops Closed
Shopping malls teem with life and promotions and processions can fill up plazas and block sidewalks... until the big lull from New Year's Eve to New Year day 2 (February 11-13, 2021), when almost everyone seems to stay at home, and most businesses shut.
But don't worry about your China tour, most tourist-related enterprises open as usual. Large restaurants, attractions, hotels, etc. will be open and ready for more customers.
Street life slowly returns to normal from the big return to work around New Year day 7 (February 18, 2021). Eating/retail options are limited in the public holiday.
Busy Hotels
Many hotels may give low price to attracts customers. So rooms in popular tourist cities are booked far in advance (the lower the price the quicker they fill up, naturally, so the best strategy is to make reservations as early as possible).
Prices Increased
Restaurants can be jam-packed, and with such large throngs of people, all vying for the same limited resources, prices are naturally on the increase.
Our Top Tips
The following collection of helpful tips are conceived with you in mind. Observing them will help you to avoid the most congested travel modes and destinations, the accumulation of frustrations from a lack of proper planning (such as not having made necessary reservations).
1. If at all possible, avoid traveling by rail.
It's very hard to get train tickets at Chinese New Year.This is the preferred mode of transportation of the Chinese people, partly because it is cheap and efficient (both excellent reasons for traveling by rail at any other time of the year in China!) and partly because it is a social event in itself.
With practically all of the Chinese people on holiday - and many of them on the move - the likelihood of finding space on a train is minimal, and even if space is available, it can be a daunting experience for you to be so tightly confined alongside so many people who do not speak your language.
Where feasible, avoid the beaten path, i.e., stay away from the largest cities with the most popular tourist destinations.
Here are our recommendations if you are looking for some less-crowded destinations during the Spring Festival:
- Xishuangbanna: rarely crowded with tourists; tropical climate and landscapes; explore local Dai culture
- Tengchong: a less-traveled destination in Northwest Yunnan; best volcanic hot spring in China; grand views of the untamed Nu River
- Xiamen: quieter than at peak times; explore Mulan's hometown; Gulangyu Island exploration
See our recommended tours:
- 6-Day Xishuangbanna and Pu'er Tour
- 8-Day Yunnan Tour of the Nu River and Tengchong
- 3-Day Xiamen and Tulou Relaxation Tour
If you insist on traveling to the the largest cities with the most popular tourist destinations, then heed especially the next two tips...
2. Arrange as much of your itinerary as possible beforehand.
This will save you from having to constantly juggle so many of your travel options that it spoils the fun of traveling. You should especially book as many of your flight tickets and your hotel rooms as possible, but of course you do not want to book hotel rooms unless you have booked your flight as well, otherwise you may end up paying for a hotel room that you do not occupy.
If you wish to enjoy a loose, carefree, unplanned journey through China, then even the high tourism summer season is a better period for this, as the competition for accommodations and transportation is much less acute than around public holidays.
Recommended New Year tours:
- 5-Day Chengdu and Hailuogou Tour — A Song of Ice and Fire
- 6-Day Beijing Winter Tour — Skiing in a 2022 Olympic Winter Games Venue
- 7-Day Harbin, China Snow Town, and Changbai Mountain Tour — Fascinating Changbai Mountain
- Contact us to tell your requirements
3. Try to exercise patience and maintain a cheerful spirit.
Some level of snags at this time of year are almost unavoidable. Showing flexibility and maintaining a cheerful spirit will increase your chances of securing a satisfactory alternative arrangement, and it will of course make it easier on yourself.
If you find yourself getting stressed over too many petty incidents, or over having too many people around you, try relaxing the Chinese way by visiting a sauna, where you can also get a relaxing massage, or attend a tai chi lesson or two; both are guaranteed to relieve stress!
4. Bring along warm clothing.
Depending on where you intend to travel (some areas of south China are mild by day even if they are cold by night, while a few are outright South-Sea-Island warm), you may find that "layered" clothing (sweaters, jackets with removable linings, windbreakers, etc.) is the best solution, as this allows you to adjust your clothing frequently, to match the frequent changes in the daily weather cycle.
North China is very cold at New Year. See China Weather in January.
Looking for a milder/warm place to spend New Year? See our warm winter tours:
- 5-Day Sanya Tour with the Best Beach — A Feast of Sea, Shore, and Sun
- 6-Day Xishuangbanna and Pu'er Tour — Escape to the Rainforest
- 7-Day Kunming, Dali and Lijiang Winter Tour — A Warm Winter Trip in Yunnan
Get a Hassle-Free Tour with China Highlights
If you are planning a tour to China during Chinese New Year, let us help you avoid the problems. See our recommendations below for inspiration:
- 5-Day Sanya Tour with the Best Beach — A Feast of Sea, Shore, and Sun
- 6-Day Beijing Winter Tour
- 7-Day Harbin, Yabuli, China Snow Town, and Jilin Tour — Charming Northeast China
- More recommended China winter tours
Our tours are customizable according to your interests and requirements. Contact us to help you tailor-make your own tour.
- See more on Chinese New Year...