China Lunar New Year 2026: When is official Spring Festival. What to know about World's one of biggest festivals

China Lunar New Year this year kicked off on February 2 and will run for 40 days. The official Spring Festival public holidays, as the new year celebrations are known, run from February 15 to 23.

Hundreds of millions of people criss-cross China during Lunar New Year holidays each year to reunite with families in their hometowns or for sight-seeing in an extended festive period, making it the world's largest annual human migration. The Lunar New Year travel rush, or "Chunyun" in Chinese, is often seen as a barometer for the country's economic health and a pressure test ‌of its ⁠vast transport ⁠system.



Officials expect a record 9.5 billion domestic trips during the 40-day period, up from about 9.02 billion ​last year. Such annual official tallies have jumped since the ⁠transport ministry ‌revamped the category before the Lunar New Year in 2023 ​to include road ​trips on major national expressways.

China's top travel agencies say international travel is on the rise this year, with the holiday extended by a day to a total of nine days.

Domestic demand has divided between destinations with a tropical ‌vibe, such as the southern island province of Hainan and the northeastern snow sports mecca of Changbai Mountain.

Internationally, summery destinations, such as ​Thailand and Australia ​are on the rise, ⁠with Russia becoming a new entrant in the ranks after it freed Chinese tourists to travel without visas in December 2025.

Demand for perennial favourite Japan has dwindled sharply ​this year amid strained ties.

The rush gains momentum as China extended the official Spring Festival break by a day.

It also widened its visa-free entry policy to more than 45 countries, making visitors from many European nations, along with those from Australia, New Zealand and more, eligible for stays of up to 30 days.