Chinese New Year: A Foreigner's Guide to the World's Largest Festival

What it is

Spring Festival (chunjie 春节) marks the start of the lunar new year. It is China's most important holiday — a 15-day celebration that begins on Lunar New Year's Eve and ends with the Lantern Festival.

When it happens

The date moves between 21 January and 20 February. In 2026, the festival begins 17 February. The official public holiday is one week, but most workers travel home for two weeks or more.

What it means

It is a family festival, not a tourist one. The largest annual human migration on the planet — over 3 billion trips — happens around it. Domestic flights and trains book out three months in advance.

Where to celebrate

• Beijing — Temple fairs at Ditan and Longtan, fireworks now restricted but still magical.
• Xi'an — Lantern displays on the ancient city wall.
• Hong Kong — A spectacular parade on Lunar New Year's Day, fireworks over Victoria Harbour on Day 2.
• Pingyao (Shanxi) — Old-China lanterns and traditional ceremonies in a UNESCO village.

What to do

• Wear red — the colour of luck.
• Bring small gifts (fruit, tea) when invited to a home.
• Accept red envelopes (hongbao) with both hands.
• Try dumplings on Lunar New Year's Eve, niangao (sticky rice cake) on Day 1.

What to avoid

• Don't visit on Lunar New Year's Eve unless you have a host — most restaurants close.
• Don't book domestic travel without pre-booked train/plane tickets.
• Don't gift clocks, sharp objects or anything in groups of 4 (unlucky).

What it feels like

Picture every shop window red, every doorframe pasted with calligraphy couplets, every restaurant serving a 12-dish reunion banquet. The energy is the closest thing to Christmas + New Year combined — louder, brighter, older.

Travel tip

If you want to see Spring Festival but skip the crowds, fly into Hong Kong or Macau, then take the high-speed rail into Guangzhou or Shenzhen on Day 3. By Day 5, the country is back open. Talk to us to plan a Spring Festival itinerary.