Holiday calendars ↗
It's Holiday China

China, without the guesswork

Practical answers for visiting China: when to go, how to get in, how to pay, get online and get around. Short, current, and checked against official sources.

Tools

ToolWhen to visit: crowd calendarHow busy every day of 2026 and 2027 is likely to be, which dates to avoid, and when train tickets go on sale.Tool240-hour visa-free transit calculatorEnter your arrival date and see the last day you can leave, and which holidays your stay runs into.

Dates to avoid

The three long national holidays, when the whole country travels at once.

  • Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)Feb 15–23, 2026
  • May Day Golden WeekMay 1–5, 2026
  • National Day Golden WeekOct 1–7, 2026
  • Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)Feb 5–13, 2027
  • May Day Golden WeekMay 1–5, 2027
  • National Day Golden WeekOct 1–7, 2027
Day-by-day crowd calendar →

Your trip, step by step

The essentials first. Full guides for each step are on the way.

  1. When to goCrowd calendar →

    • Avoid the three long national holidays (Chinese New Year, May Day and the October Golden Week): hundreds of millions of people travel at once, sights cap visitor numbers and hotel prices jump.
    • Weekdays are always quieter than weekends at the big sights.

  2. Getting in: visasGuide coming soon

    • Many passports can now visit China without a visa for a short stay, and travellers flying on to a third country can use 240-hour visa-free transit.
    • Work out your 240-hour leave-by date with the transit calculator, and check the current country list with China's National Immigration Administration before you book.

  3. PayingGuide coming soon

    • Almost everyone pays by phone. Alipay and WeChat Pay both let you link a foreign Visa or Mastercard; set one up before you fly.
    • Carry some cash in yuan (RMB) as a backup.

  4. Getting onlineGuide coming soon

    • Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and many other Western apps are blocked on Chinese networks.
    • A roaming plan or travel eSIM bought outside China usually keeps them working; sort it out before you land.

  5. Getting aroundGuide coming soon

    • High-speed trains link most big cities. Tickets are sold on China Railway's 12306 app and website up to 15 days ahead, and you board with your passport.
    • DiDi is the ride-hailing app; it has an English mode and also runs inside Alipay.

  6. Sights and bookingsGuide coming soon

    • Big museums and sights, like the Forbidden City, often need an advance booking with your passport number, and many close on Mondays.

China's public holidays

The official dates, including the weekend makeup workdays, from our main holiday calendar.

China public holidays 2026China public holidays 2027