Quick Answer
Chinese New Year (the Spring Festival) falls on February 6, 2027, marking the start of the Year of the Fire Goat, with the wider holiday period running through February 20 — China's single most important annual holiday, closer to Christmas and New Year combined in cultural weight than to a typical public festival.
When
Feb 6 – 20, 2027
Where
Nationwide; lantern displays and temple fairs most visible in Beijing, Shanghai and other major cities
Est. Daily Budget
$90–$160 (mid-range)
When to Book
This is not a ticketed event — it's the country's biggest family holiday, and the main planning consideration is the opposite of a festival: an enormous number of people travel domestically to reunion with family (the world's largest annual human migration), and many small businesses close for several days around the New Year itself while transport gets heavily booked well in advance.
Chinese New Year — officially the Spring Festival — is China's biggest annual holiday by a wide margin, and 2027 marks the start of the Year of the Fire Goat on February 6. The wider holiday period runs through February 20, though the most intense days of celebration and travel cluster around New Year's Eve (February 5) and the first few days that follow.
The defining fact for any traveler planning around this period is scale: Spring Festival travel is widely considered the largest annual human migration on Earth, as hundreds of millions of people return to their hometowns for family reunions. That has two direct, practical consequences — domestic trains, flights and buses get extremely busy and should be booked well ahead, and in the opposite direction, many major cities (Beijing and Shanghai especially) can feel noticeably emptier than usual as residents leave, even as smaller hometowns fill up.
What Visitors Can Expect
Lantern displays and temple fairs
Major cities put on elaborate red lantern displays in the run-up to New Year, and traditional temple fairs (miaohui) — combining food stalls, performances and shopping — are a genuinely accessible, open-to-everyone way to experience the holiday atmosphere in Beijing and other major cities.
Fireworks and firecrackers
Traditionally central to the celebration, though restrictions vary significantly by city — some major urban centers have banned or heavily restricted fireworks for safety and pollution reasons, while other areas retain more permissive traditions.
What Stays Open (and What Doesn't)
Many independent shops and restaurants close for several days around New Year's Eve and the following days, as staff travel to be with family — similar in practical effect to visiting a country during its biggest family holiday anywhere. Major hotels, larger attractions and chain businesses generally stay open, and the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the New Year (roughly February 20, 2027) brings a second, more public-facing celebration wave.
How Much Does a Trip Cost?
Domestic transport and hotel rates in popular destinations rise around Spring Festival as the whole country travels — international visitor numbers are comparatively smaller, but hotel availability in major cities can still tighten given how many venues scale back staffing.
| Budget Tier | Daily Cost (USD) | Accommodation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $40 – $70 | Budget hotel | Some independent restaurants closed |
| Mid-Range | $90 – $160 | Mid-range hotel | Temple fair and attraction entry included |
| Luxury | $220 – $500+ | 4-5 star hotel with own dining | Private guide, premium event access |
When to Book
Booking Timeline
- Domestic flights and high-speed trains: book as early as possible — this is the single busiest travel period in China, described as the world's largest annual human migration.
- Hotels in major cities: rates and availability tighten in the days immediately around New Year's Eve.
- Restaurants: confirm your hotel's dining options and identify larger, tourist-oriented restaurants likely to stay open, rather than assuming smaller local eateries will be operating during the core days.
Where to Experience It
Beijing's temple fairs (at sites like Ditan Park and Longtan Park) and Shanghai's Yu Garden lantern displays are two of the most visitor-accessible showcases of the holiday. Both cities also see major transport and hotel demand shifts as the holiday approaches and passes.
What Else to Do
Beyond the Core Days
- The Lantern Festival (roughly February 20, 2027, the 15th day of the New Year) brings a second, more public celebration wave with its own displays and events.
- Major sights (the Forbidden City, the Great Wall) remain open through the holiday, though with adjusted hours and potentially heavier domestic tourist crowds around the New Year period itself.
- If flexible, visiting just before or after the core New Year's Eve days can combine festive atmosphere with fewer practical closures.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the exact date of Chinese New Year in 2027?
February 6, 2027, marking the start of the Year of the Fire Goat. The wider Spring Festival holiday period runs through February 20.
Do restaurants and shops close during Chinese New Year?
Many independent restaurants and small shops close for several days around New Year's Eve and the days that follow, as staff travel home to family. Hotels and larger businesses generally stay open.
Is Chinese New Year a good time to visit China?
The lantern displays and temple fairs offer a genuinely unique atmosphere, but the core days require planning around closures and what's described as the world's largest annual travel migration — domestic transport should be booked well ahead.
Fact-Checking & Sources
Status: CONFIRMED · Last verified against the sources below on 2026-09-19. Event dates, venues, and pricing can change — always confirm critical details on the official event website before booking non-refundable travel.
- Authoritative SourceChina Travel — Chinese New Year 2027 Date & Calendar
- Secondary SourcePublicHolidays.cn — Spring Festival 2027 and 2028
