Chinese New Year 2026 Travel in China: Spring Festival Guide, Tips, and Best Tours (Year of the Horse)

Chinese New Year 2026 – also called the Spring Festival – starts on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and marks the beginning of the Year of the Fire Horse. For many foreign visitors, this is one of the most fascinating times to visit China: red lanterns, family reunions, fireworks, temple fairs, lion dances, and the Lantern Festival that closes the celebrations.

But it’s also the world’s largest annual human migration, known as chunyun, when hundreds of millions of people travel to their hometowns. That means crowded trains and flights, fully booked hotels in some areas, and higher prices if you don’t plan ahead.

This guide is designed for foreign travelers planning Chinese New Year 2026 travel in China. You’ll find:

• What to expect during Spring Festival 2026
• Pros and cons of visiting during this period
• The best places to experience Chinese New Year
• Practical tips for traveling during the holiday rush
• Recommended YellowBirdTour itineraries that work well around Spring Festival

YellowBirdTour is a China‑based Asia specialist with 41 China tours, from classic highlights to off‑the‑beaten‑path routes and Tibetan regions. You can filter tours by price, destination, and duration and submit an inquiry via their Asia Tour Search Engine for quick, customized proposals.

Key Dates for Chinese New Year 2026 (Year of the Horse)

• Lunar New Year’s Day: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 – start of the Year of the Horse.
• Public holiday period: Typically around a week, projected roughly Feb 16–Feb 22, 2026.
• Chunyun travel rush: About 40 days around the festival, when transport demand peaks and tickets sell out fast.
• Lantern Festival: 15th day of the lunar new year – expected in early March 2026 – traditionally marks the end of Spring Festival with lantern displays and tangyuan (sweet rice balls).

When planning Chinese New Year 2026 travel in China, be aware that the busiest times are:

• 3–5 days before February 17 (people going home)
• The main public holiday week
• 3–5 days after (people returning to work and school)

What Spring Festival Feels Like in China

Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is the most important family holiday of the year:

• Family reunions & homecoming – People travel long distances to their hometowns.
• Red decorations everywhere – Lanterns, couplets, paper cuttings, and “Fu” characters on doors.
• Firecrackers and fireworks – Traditionally used to ward off bad luck and welcome the new year.
• Lion and dragon dances – Performed at temple fairs, shopping streets, and plazas in many cities.
• Hongbao (red envelopes) – Filled with money, given to children and sometimes employees.
• New Year’s Eve dinner (reunion dinner) – The most important meal of the year, with dishes symbolizing prosperity and luck.

YellowBird’s China Traveler’s Guide describes Spring Festival as the country’s most celebrated holiday and part of a broader tapestry of festivals travelers can experience. The season is full of cultural meaning and rituals, but also brings crowds and price spikes, similar to Golden Week.

Pros and Cons of Visiting China During Chinese New Year 2026

Pros

• Unique cultural immersion
  You’ll see traditions that you can’t experience at any other time: temple fairs, new year markets, lanterns, family rituals, and the Lantern Festival.

• Decorations and festive atmosphere
  Cities and villages are covered in red, with lanterns and couplets on almost every door, making even a simple walk through a neighborhood feel special.

• Chance to join local celebrations
  With the right guide or host family, you might be able to attend parts of a reunion dinner, see how dumplings are made, or learn about New Year’s taboos and lucky gestures.

Cons

• Crowded transport: the largest human migration
  Hundreds of millions of trips are made by train, bus, and plane during chunyun. Tickets sell out quickly; stations are extremely busy.

• Higher prices and limited availability
  Travelchinaguide and other sources warn that hotels and flights are often more expensive and that many tickets get booked weeks in advance. YellowBird’s own advice is to avoid Chinese New Year and Golden Week if you want smoother, cheaper travel.

• Closures or limited hours
  Some small shops, restaurants, and family‑run services close for the holidays, especially in smaller cities and rural areas. Big attractions in major cities generally remain open but may have special schedules.

If you’re flexible, patient, and prepared to book early, Chinese New Year 2026 can be a once‑in‑a‑lifetime cultural experience rather than just a logistical headache.

Where to Go for Chinese New Year 2026 in China

Beijing – Temple Fairs, Lanterns, and Imperial Backdrops

Best for: First‑time visitors, culture lovers, families.

Beijing combines traditional Spring Festival culture with iconic sites:

• Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square – Monumental backdrops for a festive city.
• Temple of Heaven and local parks – Locals fly kites, play music, and exercise even during the holidays.
• Temple fairs (miao hui) – Often held in parks and temple grounds; you’ll see dragon and lion dances, folk performances, snack stalls, and games.
• Great Wall day trips – If the weather permits, visiting the Wall in winter can be atmospheric, with fewer crowds on carefully chosen sections.

YellowBird lists Beijing’s Great Wall, Forbidden City, and hutongs among the top places to visit in China. Their 4 Days Beijing Classic Tour is ideal to anchor your Chinese New Year 2026 travel in China, with guided visits to the main highlights.

Xi’an – Terracotta Warriors and Lantern‑Lit Old Streets

Best for: History enthusiasts, photography lovers.

Xi’an is a wonderful Spring Festival destination because:

• The Terracotta Army is a must‑see any time of year.
• The city wall and Muslim Quarter take on a festive feel, with food stalls and decorations.
• Lanterns and red décor make the historic streets especially photogenic.

YellowBird offers a 3 Days Xi’an Terracotta & Food Tour, combining the warriors with local snacks and markets. This tour fits perfectly between Beijing and Shanghai on a Chinese New Year itinerary.

Shanghai – Modern Fireworks and Old‑Town Charm

Best for: Travelers who like a mix of modern and traditional.

Shanghai is not as traditional as some other cities, but still a great base:

• The Bund and Pudong skyline – Magnificent at night, with possible fireworks and light shows around new year.
• Old Town and Yu Garden area – Lanterns, new year décor, and snacks create a traditional atmosphere.
• Shopping malls and entertainment – Stay lively during the holidays, convenient if smaller shops are closed.

YellowBird highlights modern Shanghai’s Bund and Old Town as core parts of their China itineraries. Including Shanghai in a multi‑city tour helps balance culture, history, and comfort.

Chengdu – Pandas, Teahouses, and Sichuan Food

Best for: Foodies, nature lovers, a relaxed pace.

Chengdu is famous for:

• Panda sanctuaries – Ideal for a half‑day or full‑day visit.
• Sichuan cuisine – Hotpot, street skewers, and snacks that are especially welcome in cold February weather.
• Teahouses and local parks – Locals play mahjong and cards, offering a slower, cozy holiday feel.

YellowBird features Chengdu’s panda sanctuaries among the top experiences in China, connected with a 3 Days Chengdu and Leshan Buddha Tour. If you want a calmer base away from the most intense travel hubs, Chengdu is excellent during Chinese New Year.

Lantern Festival Hotspots

Because the Lantern Festival marks the end of Spring Festival with illuminated lanterns, riddles, and sweet rice balls, you might want to be in a major city or scenic town around that time:

• Beijing – Park lantern displays and cultural performances.
• Xi’an – Old city and walls decorated with lanterns; often special events.
• Smaller historic towns (Pingyao, Fenghuang) – More traditional lantern displays, though logistics can be trickier.

YellowBird’s China Traveler’s Guide highlights the Lantern Festival as a signature event, with parks and streets adorned with beautifully lit lanterns.

Practical Tips for Chinese New Year 2026 Travel in China

Book Early (Trains, Flights, and Hotels)

Travelchinaguide and similar resources emphasize:

• The 40 days around Chinese New Year are a massive peak travel period.
• Train and flight tickets can sell out as soon as they’re released.
• Hotels in popular cities can fully book or charge higher prices.

YellowBird also warns that Chinese New Year and Golden Week drive crowds and price spikes, recommending travel outside those windows for a smoother trip. If you do choose to travel during the festival, booking as early as possible is crucial.

Consider Shoulder Dates

To reduce stress:

• Arrive in China a week or more before Feb 17 if possible, and avoid traveling long distances on the peak days themselves.
• Or focus your long‑distance moves on days slightly before/after the public holiday window.

YellowBird suggests that traveling in shoulder periods around major holidays often means better value and shorter lines.

Use a Local Tour Operator to Handle Logistics

With 41 China tours covering classic highlights and niche experiences, YellowBird can:

• Secure tickets and timed entries for you.
• Arrange guided transfers between cities (e.g., Beijing–Xi’an–Shanghai–Chengdu).
• Provide English‑speaking guides, 4‑star hotels, and in‑country transport as standard inclusions.

You can filter tours by duration (1–4, 5–8, 9–21 days) and destination in the Asia Tour Search Engine, then submit an inquiry for tailored advice.

Be Flexible with Your Daily Plans

During Chinese New Year:

• Some attractions may change opening hours.
• Certain small restaurants and shops may close for a few days.

Having a local guide and pre‑arranged tours means someone on the ground can make quick adjustments and suggest alternatives if something is unexpectedly closed.

Recommended YellowBird Tours for Chinese New Year 2026

YellowBird’s “10 Best China Tours 2026” article showcases classic and off‑beat itineraries designed for 2025–2026, including Christmas/New Year and beyond. For Chinese New Year 2026 travel in China, consider:

Classic Beijing–Xi’an–Shanghai Small‑Group Route

Ideal for: First‑time visitors, families, general travelers.

Typical structure:

• Beijing – Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, hutongs.
• Xi’an – Terracotta Army, city wall, Muslim Quarter.
• Shanghai – Bund, Old Town, skyline.

You can anchor this around Feb 17 and choose which city you want to be in for Chinese New Year’s Eve and the first days of Spring Festival. Use YellowBird’s 4 Days Beijing Classic Tour and 3 Days Xi’an Terracotta & Food Tour as core modules.

Chengdu and Leshan Buddha Extension

Ideal for: Food and nature lovers, lower‑key holiday atmosphere.

Add a 3 Days Chengdu and Leshan Buddha Tour to enjoy:

• Panda sanctuaries.
• Sichuan cuisine and hotpot.
• Leshan Giant Buddha day trip.

This extension can be scheduled before or after the central Spring Festival week to avoid the most intense travel days while still experiencing festival décor and atmosphere.

Landscape‑Focused Extensions: Yunnan & Guilin

If you have more than 10–12 days, consider:

• Yunnan & Guilin’s landscapes – karst mountains, rice terraces, minority villages.

YellowBird’s catalog includes private and small‑group tours that connect these scenic regions with classic cities. These areas may be less crowded than major transport hubs during chunyun, though you still need to book transport in advance.

Is Chinese New Year 2026 a Good Time for You to Visit China?

Ask yourself:

• Do you mainly want smooth logistics and fewer crowds?
  Then follow YellowBird’s advice and consider April–June or September–November instead, avoiding Chinese New Year and Golden Week.

• Do you want a deep cultural experience and don’t mind crowds and higher prices?
  Then Chinese New Year 2026 travel in China can be perfect, as long as you:

  • Book early.
  • Are flexible around peak days.
  • Use a local operator to take the stress out of trains, tickets, and last‑minute changes.

With thoughtful planning and a local partner like YellowBirdTour, traveling during Spring Festival 2026 – the Year of the Horse can be an unforgettable way to experience China’s most important holiday from the inside.