Travelling in China over Chinese New Year 2027

The key dates for 2027

• New Year's Eve: Friday 5 February 2027, the night of the family reunion dinner and, where allowed, fireworks at midnight.
• New Year's Day: Saturday 6 February 2027.
• The public holiday: the State Council had not published the 2027 schedule when we checked (October 2026); recent years gave about eight or nine days off around New Year's Day. We will update this page when it is announced.
• The travel rush (chunyun): 40 days, usually starting 15 days before New Year's Day, so about 22 January to 2 March 2027. The heaviest days are the week before New Year's Eve and the days just after the holiday ends.
• Lantern Festival: Saturday 20 February 2027, the 15th day, with lantern shows that close the season.

Should you travel in China over Chinese New Year?

Yes, if you choose your days and your base. The festival itself is quiet and festive: on New Year's Eve and the first days of the new year, families stay home and many city streets are calm, while temples, parks and light shows are lively. What makes it hard is the travel on either side, when hundreds of millions of people go home and come back.

Plan to arrive at your base before the rush peaks, stay put for the holiday week, and avoid long train trips on the busiest days. Book hotels with free cancellation and trains as soon as tickets go on sale.

What stays open and what closes

• Big hotels, chain restaurants, malls, convenience stores, metros and most major sights stay open; sights are crowded from about the second to the sixth day.
• Small family-run restaurants, local shops and markets often close from New Year's Eve for several days, some until the Lantern Festival.
• Banks and government offices close for the official holiday. Mobile payments with Alipay and WeChat Pay keep working.
• Taxis and DiDi run but are scarcer and can cost more on New Year's Eve; some hotel staff are away, so service can be slower.

Trains and flights

Train tickets go on sale 15 days before departure on 12306.cn, China Railway's official site and app, where foreigners book with a passport; verify your passport in the app early. Tickets for the busiest days sell out within minutes of release, so be online when they open, or travel on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day itself, which are the quietest days to move.

Flights are also at their most expensive just before New Year's Eve and at the end of the holiday. Booking agencies such as Trip.com can queue a train request before sales open, but the ticket is only confirmed when China Railway issues it.

Hotel prices over the holiday

Prices rise sharply where Chinese families go on holiday: Harbin for the Ice Festival, Sanya on Hainan island, Xiamen, Yunnan's Lijiang and Dali, and the famous sights of Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. Book these as soon as your dates are set.

Big business and factory cities such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Dongguan empty out as people go home, and their hotels are often cheaper than usual, but more of their restaurants are closed.

Whatever you book, read the hotel's 1–2 star reviews first, and check that it accepts foreign guests: our guide to hotels that accept foreigners explains how.

Where to spend Chinese New Year

• Beijing: temple fairs in the city's parks, with snacks, performances and crafts. Where to stay in Beijing.
• Harbin: the Ice and Snow World is in full swing, cold and spectacular. Where to stay in Harbin for the Ice Festival.
• Shanghai: the lantern show at Yu Garden, from before New Year to the Lantern Festival. Where to stay in Shanghai.
• Xi'an: lanterns along and around the old city wall, and the Tang-style streets lit up at night. Hotels in Xi'an.
• Guangzhou: the flower markets in the days before New Year's Eve, a southern tradition. Hotels in Guangzhou.
• Hong Kong: the night parade on New Year's Day and the fireworks over Victoria Harbour on the second day. Where to stay in Hong Kong.

Tips for the holiday

• Book hotels with free cancellation now; prices in holiday destinations only rise.
• Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly: some small places that do open take only mobile payments.
• Plan meals for New Year's Eve: many restaurants serve only set reunion-dinner menus booked weeks ahead, so reserve one or eat at your hotel.
• Say "Xīnnián kuàilè" (Happy New Year); the traditional gift is a red envelope with new banknotes, given to children and staff.
• Expect fireworks to be banned in many city centres; the rules differ by city and change from year to year.