Festivals:

China has several big festivals with some that last for quite a few days. The biggest by far, which can last a few weeks (about a month if you’re a student), is Spring Festival, aka ‘CNY’ (Chinese New Year). This family occasion is lunar so has no fixed date. Usually held at some point between mid-January to mid-February, deafening firecrackers, street firework explosions and plenty of food with huge family gatherings are held. From the 1st day of the new year is 15 days of ‘special time’ culminating in Lantern Festival which marks the end of this magical period. That’s when you get to see those fabulous red lanterns lift into the night sky from rooftops and parks across the country.

May Day is on 1st May and actually lasts several days. In most holidays, you’ll find that businesses often work a long weekend beforehand (Saturday and Sunday), which effectively gives them five days (plus the next weekend, giving a total of seven days in some cases!). That’s a pretty good deal and many people go camping, go back to their family hometowns or dash to the coast for a few nights. There’s also Tomb Sweeping Day in spring, Mid-Autumn Day in autumn (the fullest moon of the year in which flavoured ‘mooncakes’ are sold in elegant packaging and given as gifts) and Dragon Boat Racing Boat Racing Day in summer.

The second major national holiday is ‘Golden Week’ (or ‘National Day’, starting on 1st October but lasting up to seven whole days off), which originates from the foundation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Other days of interest but not necessarily national holidays off, include Women’s Day, Children’s Day, Teacher’s Day and Chinese Military Day.

Then, there are also local events held in all communities across the entire country, from food fates to stage entertainment, although China doesn’t much go for street carnivals, sadly. 

China is also active during the Christmas and the calendar New Year. Images of Santa Clause can be found everywhere, trees adorn malls and gifts are sometimes exchanged. If you find yourself in China around Christmas time, you may be given an honorary feast by your friends or employer.

Either way, do give your best wishes to locals if you find yourself in China during any of these holiday periods (make a note of Ramadan if you’re visiting Xinjiang or other Islamic hotspots); though try to avoid any rail travel and the subsequent chaos during these peak periods – things get booked out very quickly and way in advance!

(See Trains).