China Festivals & Events Calendar 2026
Month-by-month guide to every major Chinese festival, holiday, and event — with dates, locations, and tips on what's actually worth planning your trip around.
Qianyi's Picks: Festivals Worth Planning Your Trip Around
“China has hundreds of festivals, but these are the ones I'd genuinely rearrange my travel dates for. Each offers something you can't experience anywhere else in the world.”
- ★Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) — January / February · February 17 – February 23, 2026
- ★Lantern Festival — January / February · March 3, 2026
- ★Peach Blossom Festivals — March · Mid-March – Early April
- ★Torch Festival — July / August · Late July, 2026 (Lunar calendar varies)
- ★Mid-Autumn Festival — September · September 27, 2026
- ★Harbin International Ice & Snow Festival — December / January · January 5 – Late February, 2027
January / February
Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)
The biggest celebration in China. Expect fireworks, temple fairs, dragon dances, and family reunions. Cities empty as millions travel home, while tourist sites are quieter than usual.
Explore destinationsLantern Festival
Marks the end of New Year celebrations with dazzling lantern displays, riddle-solving, and tangyuan (sweet rice balls). Zigong's lantern festival is the most spectacular.
See lantern festival citiesMarch
Peach Blossom Festivals
Valleys and hillsides explode in pink as peach trees bloom. Nyingchi in Tibet is the most breathtaking — imagine peach blossoms framed by snow-capped Himalayas.
Plan a blossom tripApril
Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day)
Families honor ancestors by visiting graves and enjoying spring outings. A reflective holiday — parks and scenic areas fill up, especially around Hangzhou's West Lake.
Explore spring destinationsLuoyang Peony Festival
Over 1,000 peony varieties bloom across Luoyang's gardens. The city has celebrated peonies for over 1,500 years — combine with visits to the Longmen Grottoes.
Discover LuoyangMay
Labour Day Golden Week
One of China's three Golden Weeks. Domestic tourism peaks — book transport and hotels well in advance. Great weather across most of China, but expect crowds everywhere.
Beat the crowdsJune
Dragon Boat Festival
Colorful dragon boat races on rivers and lakes, plus zongzi (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves). Head to Miluo River in Hunan for the most authentic races.
See racing locationsJuly / August
Qingdao International Beer Festival
Asia's largest beer festival — think Oktoberfest meets the beach. Tsingtao's hometown hosts three weeks of brews, live music, and seafood along the coast.
Explore QingdaoTorch Festival
The Yi people light massive bonfires, carry torches through villages, and celebrate with wrestling, bull-fighting, and traditional dancing under the stars.
Explore YunnanSeptember
Mid-Autumn Festival
Families gather to admire the full moon, eat mooncakes, and light lanterns. Head to a lakeside city for the most magical evening — West Lake in Hangzhou is iconic.
Moon-viewing spotsOctober
National Day Golden Week
China's biggest travel week — 800+ million trips. Iconic sites are packed. If you visit, book months ahead and consider lesser-known destinations for a better experience.
Off-the-beaten-path picksNovember
Singles' Day (11.11)
The world's largest shopping event. Not a traditional festival, but a cultural phenomenon — expect jaw-dropping deals online and flashy events in Shanghai and Hangzhou.
Shopping in ChinaDecember / January
Harbin International Ice & Snow Festival
Massive illuminated ice sculptures, snow castles, and winter sports in -20°C weather. One of the world's most impressive winter festivals — absolutely worth the cold.
Plan your Harbin tripPractical Tips for Festival Travel
Book Early for Golden Weeks
Chinese New Year, Labour Day, and National Day see the heaviest travel. Book trains and hotels 1–2 months ahead. Prices spike and popular routes sell out fast.
Embrace the Crowds — or Avoid Them
Festival crowds are part of the experience. But if you prefer quieter travel, visit right before or after the official holiday dates for the same atmosphere with fewer people.
Check Lunar Calendar Dates
Most traditional festivals follow the lunar calendar, so dates shift each year. Always verify exact dates for the year you're traveling — the dates on this page are for 2026.
Regional Festivals Are Hidden Gems
Beyond the major holidays, ethnic minority festivals in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Tibet offer unforgettable cultural experiences with far fewer tourists.