Chinese New Year 2027 in China: Dates, Travel Rush, What Closes and Tips for Visitors

Last checked: 2026-11-05. Rules change; always confirm with the official source before you travel.

Chinese New Year, called Spring Festival (春节, Chūnjié) in China, is the country's biggest holiday. In 2027, New Year's Day in the lunar calendar falls on Saturday 6 February 2027, starting the Year of the Goat (also translated as Sheep or Ram). New Year's Eve, the most important family night, is Friday 5 February, and the celebrations close with the Lantern Festival on Saturday 20 February 2027.

Visiting China at this time can be magical, with red lanterns, temple fairs and fireworks in the countryside, but it is also the busiest travel period of the year. Here is what to expect and how to plan.

Key dates for 2027

Full 2027 holiday dates, including Labour Day and Golden Week, are on our China public holidays 2027 page.

The travel rush: trains and flights

Hundreds of millions of people travel home before New Year's Eve and back to the cities afterwards. For visitors this means:

• Train tickets sell out fast. On 12306, tickets for most trains go on sale about 15 days before departure, and popular routes around the holiday can sell out within minutes. Set an alarm for the release time, or use the waitlist (候补) feature. See our transport guide for booking with a passport.
• Travel in the opposite direction to the crowds. The week before New Year's Eve, trains out of big cities are packed; trains into Beijing and Shanghai are quieter. After the holiday it reverses.
• Flights cost more around the peak days. Book early, and consider flying on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day itself, when many people are already home.
• Leave buffer time at stations and airports, and keep your passport handy for every ticket check.

What is open and what closes

• Big attractions such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army normally stay open and are very busy during the holiday week. Book timed tickets well ahead; the Palace Museum is usually still closed on Mondays.
• Small family restaurants, local shops and markets often close for several days or longer, especially in smaller cities. Shopping malls, chain restaurants, hotels and convenience stores usually stay open.
• Big cities feel quieter during the first days, because many residents have gone home. That can make Beijing or Shanghai pleasant to walk around, with shorter queues away from the top sights.
• Delivery and ride-hailing still work but can be slower and pricier. Have Alipay or WeChat Pay set up before you arrive.

Festival experiences worth seeking out

• Temple fairs (庙会): street food, folk performances and games, held in parks and temples in many cities during the first days of the new year.
• Lantern displays around the Lantern Festival, in city parks and in historic towns. In Shanxi, old walled towns such as Pingyao are famous for their festive red lanterns.
• Fireworks: many big cities restrict them in central districts (in Beijing they are banned inside the Fifth Ring Road), so the biggest displays are often in suburbs and the countryside.
• Winter trips: the holiday overlaps with the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival season.

Etiquette and phrases

• Say 新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè, Happy New Year) or 恭喜发财 (Gōngxǐ fācái, wishing you prosperity).
• Red envelopes (红包, hóngbāo) with money are given to children and unmarried relatives; now many people send them digitally on WeChat. As a guest you are not expected to give them unless you are close to the family.
• If invited to a family home, bring fruit, good tea or a gift from your country; avoid clocks and anything in sets of four. Our business etiquette guide covers gifts in more detail.
• Red is the colour of the season; avoid giving white or black wrapped gifts.

Doing business around Chinese New Year

For every 2027 holiday date and the make-up working days, see China public holidays 2027.

If you buy from Chinese factories, the holiday matters more than the date suggests:

• Factories often close for two to four weeks, because many workers travel to distant home provinces. Some workers do not return, so output can be slow for several weeks after reopening.
• Place orders early. Suppliers get very busy from November to January as everyone tries to ship before the holiday. Confirm production and shipping cut-off dates in writing.
• Plan visits for March or later if you want to see normal production. A factory visit in the last week before the holiday may show a half-empty line.
• Expect slower replies on WeChat and email during the holiday week; most offices reopen after the official days off, and some only after the Lantern Festival.

Is it a good time to visit?

Go if you want the festive atmosphere and do not mind crowds at the big sights and some closed local shops. Avoid it if your trip depends on lots of intercity train travel on tight dates, or if you need suppliers to be working. Check our visa-free entry guide before you book; the 30-day exemption currently runs until 31 December 2026, so check the latest rules for early 2027.

FAQ

When is Chinese New Year 2027?

Saturday 6 February 2027, the start of the Year of the Goat. New Year's Eve is Friday 5 February and the Lantern Festival is Saturday 20 February 2027.

Is it hard to get train tickets during Chinese New Year?

Yes, around the peak days. Tickets on 12306 usually go on sale about 15 days ahead and popular routes sell out quickly. Book the moment sales open, use the waitlist, or travel against the main flow of people.

Are tourist attractions open during Spring Festival?

Most major attractions stay open and are very crowded. Small local shops and family restaurants often close for several days.

Do Chinese factories close for New Year?

Many close for two to four weeks around the holiday, and production can take a few more weeks to return to normal.

Official sources

• Xinhua (authorized release): State Council General Office notice on 2027 public holiday arrangements (国办发明电〔2026〕10号, 5 Nov 2026)
• State Council General Office notice on 2027 public holiday arrangements (国办发明电〔2026〕10号), reprinted on a .gov.cn site
• China Railway 12306 (official)