Christmas & New Year 2026
Christmas in China, open as usual
Christmas is not a public holiday in mainland China. Malls, attractions, theme parks and restaurants keep normal hours on 24 and 25 December, and in most cities Christmas week is low or shoulder season, so hotel rates are usually at their normal level. Add the city lights and a New Year's Eve countdown, and it is a calm week to travel.
Guangzhou, Christmas season. Photo: Kent Chin / Unsplash
- 24–25 December
- Normal working days in mainland China
- Most cities
- Low or shoulder season for hotels
- Spring Festival
- February 2027, the busiest travel period
Why Christmas week works
A normal week in China, which is the point
- 01
Everything keeps its usual hours
Christmas is not on mainland China's public-holiday calendar, so shops, malls, museums, theme parks and restaurants open as on any other day. Single venues can still close for their own reasons; we check the ones on your route.
- 02
Most cities are in low season
Late November to mid-December, and Christmas week itself, are low or shoulder season in most cities. Hotel rates are usually at their normal level and the big sights are calmer than in the summer and national holidays.
- 03
The exceptions, stated plainly
Harbin during the ice and snow season, Sanya and the rest of Hainan (their winter peak), ski resorts, and big-city centres on the night of 31 December are busy and priced to match. We plan around them, or into them when they are the reason for the trip.
- 04
1 January is a public holiday
New Year's Day is a holiday in China. The State Council publishes the official 2027 arrangement, usually in November; we confirm it before fixing anything around 1 January.
Chinese Christmas & New Year's Eve
What Christmas and New Year's Eve look like in China
In Chinese cities Christmas is a season of lights and nights out rather than a family holiday, and 31 December is the bigger public event.
Programmes are announced by cities in December. Our consultants confirm what's on for your dates.
- Malls and shopping streets
- Large malls and shopping streets in cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou put up Christmas trees, light installations and themed displays through December.
- Christmas markets
- Seasonal markets with food stalls and gifts appear in some cities, often around malls, hotels and riverfront promenades.
- Christmas Eve at historic churches
- Some historic churches, such as St Ignatius Cathedral at Xujiahui in Shanghai, hold Christmas Eve services. Whether members of the public can attend, and how, is set by each church every year; we check the current arrangement.
- New Year's Eve countdowns
- Big cities mark 31 December with countdowns, light shows on landmark buildings and, in some cities, drone shows. Popular areas such as the Bund in Shanghai can be closed or put under crowd control that night; follow police notices.
Suggested winter routes
Where to spend Christmas and New Year
Every trip is planned around you, Independent or Private Guided. These are the starting points travellers ask us about most in winter.
Shanghai and the water towns
Christmas lights in Shanghai, a day in Suzhou or Hangzhou, and the Bund skyline for New Year's Eve from a viewpoint outside the closure zone.
See the Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou routeBeijing in winter
Cold, often clear days for the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and hutong walks, with warm restaurants waiting at the end of them.
Beijing city guideHarbin ice and snow
The ice and snow season is the main exception to winter low season, so book early. It pairs well with Beijing by high-speed train.
Harbin in winter: the guideGuangzhou and Hong Kong
A mild southern winter, Cantonese food and Christmas lights in both cities. Unlike the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau have Christmas public holidays.
Guangzhou city guideYunnan
Kunming, Dali and Lijiang in the dry season: sunny days at altitude and cold nights.
See the Yunnan routeSomewhere else in mind?
Tell us your dates and the places you are curious about; a specialist shapes the route around the season.
Start planning
Christmas vs Chinese New Year
Christmas or Chinese New Year?
| Christmas week | Spring Festival | |
|---|---|---|
| When | 24–25 December | February 2027 |
| Public holiday | No (mainland China) | Yes, the main national holiday |
| Shops and restaurants | Normal hours | Many family-run restaurants and shops close for several days |
| Trains and flights | Normal demand on most routes | The busiest travel period of the year; tickets sell out |
| Hotels | Usually normal rates in most cities (exceptions above) | Peak demand in popular destinations |
| What you'll see | Christmas lights, New Year's Eve countdowns | Lanterns, temple fairs, family celebrations |
Practical
Before you fly
240-hour visa-free transit
Onward travel to a third country can give you up to 240 hours in China without a visa.
240-hour visa-free guide30-day visa-free entry
Ordinary passport holders of eligible countries can stay up to 30 days without a visa.
30-day visa-free guidePayments
Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your foreign card before you land.
Alipay for foreignerseSIM and data
Have mobile data working from arrival for maps, payments and translation.
eSIM and SIM guide
Weather
December is winter across China: cold and dry in the north, with Harbin among the coldest big cities; mild in the south, including Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Hainan; sunny with cold nights in Yunnan. We send a packing note for your route.
Christmas & New Year guides
Read before you plan
Christmas in China 2026: What's Open, Prices and How It Feels
Christmas in China 2026 is a standard working day. Sights, restaurants, and shops keep normal hours, while late December offers shoulder-season value.
New Year's Eve in China 2026: Countdowns, Light Shows and Drone Shows by City
A practical guide to New Year's Eve in China 2026, including city lighting, countdowns, drone shows, holiday dates and crowd planning.
China Over Christmas and New Year: A 10–14 Day Winter Route
A practical 10–14 day China Christmas and New Year route from Shanghai through Xi'an to Beijing, with optional Hangzhou or Suzhou, rail planning and seasonal advice.
Harbin Ice and Snow and Northeast China in Winter
Plan a practical Harbin ice-and-snow winter trip with timing advice, a 4–7 day itinerary, cold-weather packing guidance and route options for foreigners.
Winter in China 2026–27: Where to Go from December to February
A practical guide to choosing warm, snowy or sunny destinations in China from December to February.
Chinese New Year 2027 in China: Dates, Closures and the Travel Rush
A practical guide to travelling in China during Chinese New Year 2027, covering confirmed dates, closures, Chunyun and train planning.
Winter Trip to China: Christmas vs Chinese New Year
Compare a Christmas-week China trip with Spring Festival 2027, including opening hours, domestic travel pressure, hotel demand, weather, and cultural atmosphere.
FAQ
Christmas in China: common questions
Is China open at Christmas?
Yes. Christmas is not a public holiday in mainland China, so shops, malls, attractions, theme parks and restaurants keep normal hours on 24 and 25 December. Individual venues can still close for their own reasons.
Are hotels in China more expensive over Christmas?
In most cities, no: Christmas week is low or shoulder season and hotel rates are usually at their normal level. The exceptions are Harbin in the ice and snow season, Sanya and Hainan, ski resorts, and city-centre hotels on the night of 31 December.
Do people in China celebrate Christmas?
Mostly as a city celebration rather than a family or religious holiday: malls and streets are decorated, friends go out on Christmas Eve, and some churches hold Christmas Eve services. New Year's Eve countdowns are the larger public events.
Is New Year's Day a holiday in China?
Yes, 1 January is a public holiday. The 2027 arrangement is published by the General Office of the State Council, usually in November; check it before fixing travel around 1 January.
Is it better to visit China at Christmas or at Chinese New Year?
For an easier trip, Christmas: normal opening hours and normal demand in most cities. Spring Festival, in February 2027, is the busiest travel period of the year, when trains sell out and many family-run restaurants and shops close for several days.
Plan a Christmas or New Year trip
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. A local specialist replies with a route, the season's exceptions for your cities, and what is on that week once programmes are announced.
What happens next
- 1.A specialist reads your brief and replies within one working day.
- 2.You get a draft route with hotels, trains and the dates to watch.
- 3.We refine it with you, then book and support the trip 7×24.