Should you travel China during Golden Week?
Yes, if your dates are flexible. Golden Week — the National Day holiday — runs October 1 to 7 in 2026, and it is the hardest week of the year to move around China. Long-distance trains sell out and the whole country is on the same seven days off.
Mainland China has seven public holidays in 2026, totalling 33 days off, five more than in 2025. Some of those days are borrowed: a weekend is worked to create a longer run.
2026 holiday dates
| Holiday | Dates | Days off | Make-up workdays |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1–3 | 3 | Sun Jan 4 |
| Spring Festival | Feb 15–23 | 9 | Sat Feb 14, Sat Feb 28 |
| Qingming | Apr 4–6 | 3 | None |
| Labour Day | May 1–5 | 5 | Sat May 9 |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Jun 19–21 | 3 | None |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Sep 25–27 | 3 | None |
| National Day (Golden Week) | Oct 1–7 | 7 | Sun Sep 20, Sat Oct 10 |
Which dates hurt most
National Day is the worst of them. It is the only autumn break of any length and the weather is good, so every long-distance train and plane in the country is contested. If you want Beijing, Xi'an or Zhangjiajie, this is the week everyone else wants too.
Spring Festival, February 15 to 23, is nine days — the longest Spring Festival break on record. It sits inside the 40-day travel rush, which starts February 2 and ends March 13; the busiest days are expected on February 13 and February 23.
Mid-Autumn Festival, September 25 to 27, falls just before National Day. Taking annual leave on September 28 to 30 links the two into 13 days off. For a visitor the useful reading is the reverse: September 28 to 30 are ordinary working days here, and October 1 is not.
How to book around it
Tickets for Chinese trains go on sale 15 days before departure on the official 12306 app and website. A trial reservation service on the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed and conventional lines lets you lodge a request 30 to 17 days ahead — that window was cut from 60 days on September 26, 2026. It is not available nationwide.
Expressway tolls are waived for cars of up to seven seats during Spring Festival, Qingming, Labour Day and National Day. The Spring Festival free window runs from 00:00 on February 15 to 24:00 on February 23.
Book beds before you book anything else. Holiday rates and cancellation terms differ between platforms, so compare all the main booking sites before you commit.
Book hotels, flights & trains across China — all in one place
Between these holidays there are long stretches with no public holiday at all: April 7 to April 30, May 6 to June 18, and June 22 to September 24. Those are the weeks to aim for.
Last checked: 2026-09-28
Keep reading
Where to Stay in Dunhuang: City Center vs Desert Edge
Dunhuang has two distinct places to base yourself: the city center near Shazhou Night Market, or the desert edge near Mingsha Mountain. The right choice depends on how you plan to use your days.
Oriental Pearl 230 Sky Hotel: What a Night Up the Tower Is Like
The Oriental Pearl 230 Sky Hotel puts you inside the tower at the 230-metre mark. What one visitor's night there actually involved — and why you should check live rates.
Capella Shanghai's Orchid Gathering, Jian Guo West Road
An orchid gathering at the Capella Shanghai on Jian Guo West Road, logged at a 14:30 arrival — and the limits of what a single visit tells you.