Festivals in China

There are two major holiday weeks in China. They are colloquially known as "golden weeks." One is the week surrounding the October 3rd National Day holiday. The other is the Lunar New Year holiday (start of the new lunar calendar).

These weeks will showcase the largest internal migration of people anywhere in the world. Train tickets go on sale 4-8 weeks before the holiday and sell out within minutes. Shops are closed or running on modified hours with minimal staff. If you want to travel during these holidays, it is recommended that you travel before the first day of the official holiday and return in the middle of the holiday, or before/after the last day.

That said, "staycations" are popular with the expat community. Large cities like Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Beijing have all kinds of cultural sites, parks, and museums that are free on public holidays for those willing to brave the crowds. It is also a good chance to visit less touristy areas of China (if you can get a bus ticket). Villages are fun to visit with Chinese friends or coworkers. It's not unusual to be invited to spend the week with a friend's family in a village. If you get the opportunity; do it and take your camera. Villages are often located in out of the way places and will often have scenic areas, temples, and interesting architecture. They will also be allowed fireworks and paper lanterns (which are banned or restricted in the larger cities), so the celebrations will have a much more traditional feel to them.

For those with some money, another popular option (and one growing in popularity with affluent Chinese) is to travel abroad. Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Bali, and the Philippines are all fun and popular destinations. Be prepared to spend a bit more for that plane ticket, though. Nepal, India, and Russia are also gaining in popularity.