China: Spring Festival & Golden Week — High Disruption.
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Spring Festival & Golden Week — High Disruption. The Spring Festival (Lunar New Year, Jan/Feb) triggers the largest annual human migration on Earth — expect fully booked trains and hotels, and many small businesses closed for a week or more. National Day Golden Week (Oct 1) is similarly disruptive on a smaller scale.
China: Spring Festival & Golden Week — High Disruption. The Spring Festival (Lunar New Year, Jan/Feb) triggers the largest annual human migration on Earth — expect fully booked trains and hotels, and many small businesses closed for a week or more. National Day Golden Week (Oct 1) is similarly disruptive on a smaller scale.
Expect real disruption — many businesses closed, transport and hotels booked out well in advance, and significant price surges.
Not exact dates — many of these holidays (Ramadan, Lunar New Year, Easter-linked observances) shift every year on lunar or moveable calendars. Search the specific year of your trip to confirm exact dates.
Not necessarily — major tourist attractions and international hotels usually stay open even during high-disruption seasons, and some (like Carnival or Songkran) are genuinely worth experiencing if you plan around them. Just book well ahead and expect higher prices.