When is Chinese New Year 2027?
Saturday, February 6, 2027. New Year's Eve is Friday, February 5, and the Lantern Festival is Saturday, February 20.
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When Is Chinese New Year 2027? Dates and Travel Tips for China
Maintained by Lin · Checked against official sources, November 1, 2026
Quick answer
Chinese New Year 2027 falls on Saturday, February 6. New Year's Eve is Friday, February 5, and the new year is the Year of the Goat.
Holiday: mainland China's official holiday starts on New Year's Eve. It has 4 statutory days, stretched with weekend swaps into a longer break: 8 days in 2025, 9 in 2026. The 2027 dates aren't out yet; the 2026 schedule was published on November 4, 2025.
Trains: 12306 sells tickets 15 days before departure, and holiday trains sell out fast. In 2026 the travel rush (chunyun) lasted 40 days.
Shops: most small shops and restaurants close until around the 7th day of the new year. Big malls and supermarkets usually open, except on New Year's Eve.
Crowds: in my experience, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen get quieter than usual, because so many people go home.
Jump to: Key dates · Holiday · Trains · What's open · Where to go · Phrases
Last reviewed: November 1, 2026
Chinese New Year 2027: key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Friday, February 5, 2027 | New Year's Eve (除夕): the family reunion dinner, and the first day of the official holiday |
| Saturday, February 6, 2027 | Chinese New Year's Day (Spring Festival), the start of the Year of the Goat |
| Saturday, February 20, 2027 | Lantern Festival (元宵节), the 15th day of the new year |
| Not announced yet | The official 2027 holiday dates and make-up workdays, published by the State Council |
The date moves every year because it follows the lunar calendar. In 2026, New Year's Day was February 17.
How long is the holiday in China?
Since 2025, the Spring Festival holiday has had 4 statutory days: New Year's Eve and the first three days of the new year. The State Council then swaps in weekend days to make a longer break, so a nearby Saturday or Sunday can become a workday.
| Year | Spring Festival holiday |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 days, starting on New Year's Eve |
| 2026 | 9 days, February 15–23; Saturdays February 14 and 28 were workdays |
| 2027 | Not announced yet. The 2026 schedule was published on November 4, 2025 |
Government offices close for the official holiday. Shops and restaurants decide for themselves: see what's open. I'll add the 2027 dates here as soon as they're published.
Trains and the travel rush
Tickets go on sale 15 days before departure on 12306, from 5:00 to 1:00 the next day (5:00 to 23:30 on Tuesdays). For trains around the holiday, be ready when sales open. How to book: China train tickets for foreigners.
The rush lasts weeks, not days. In 2026, chunyun ran for 40 days, from February 2 to March 13; New Year's Day was February 17. The 2027 dates haven't been announced.
Trains out of the big cities fill up before New Year's Eve, and trains back fill up at the end of the holiday. If you can, travel against that flow.
What's open over Chinese New Year
Small restaurants and shops: expect many to close from New Year's Eve until around the 7th day.
Malls and supermarkets: usually open, except on New Year's Eve.
Food delivery: usually still available. Big cities add a surcharge; small cities are hit harder.
DiDi and taxis: fewer drivers and higher fares, so allow extra time.
Attractions: check each one's holiday notice and book timed tickets as usual. Forbidden City tickets go on sale at 20:00 Beijing time, 7 days ahead, with no same-day tickets: 3-day Beijing itinerary.
The shops that stay open take Alipay and WeChat Pay as usual, so set one up before you fly: WeChat Pay for foreigners.
Where to go: festival or quiet city
For the festival: smaller cities and towns, and the Fujian coast and the Chaoshan area of eastern Guangdong.
For fewer crowds: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Either way, book trains and hotels early: the travel rush runs both ways.
Useful phrases
新年快乐！(Xīnnián kuàilè!) — Happy New Year!
春节快乐！(Chūnjié kuàilè!) — Happy Spring Festival!
恭喜发财！(Gōngxǐ fācái!) — Wishing you prosperity!
你们春节开门吗？(Nǐmen Chūnjié kāimén ma?) — Are you open over Spring Festival?
初几开门？(Chū jǐ kāimén?) — Which day of the new year do you reopen?
FAQ
How long is the Chinese New Year holiday in 2027?
The State Council hasn't published the 2027 schedule yet. Since 2025 the holiday has had 4 statutory days starting on New Year's Eve, extended with weekend swaps: 8 days in 2025 and 9 in 2026.
What zodiac year is 2027?
The Year of the Goat, sometimes called the Year of the Sheep. It starts on February 6, 2027.
Is Chinese New Year a good time to visit China?
It can be, if you plan for it. You'll see the festival, but trains sell out and many small shops close for about a week. In my experience, big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai are quieter than usual, and malls and delivery keep working.
Are shops and restaurants closed during Chinese New Year?
Many small shops and restaurants close until around the 7th day of the new year. Big malls and supermarkets usually stay open, except on New Year's Eve.
When do train tickets go on sale for Chinese New Year?
12306 sells tickets 15 days before departure, so holiday tickets go on sale about two weeks ahead. Popular trains sell out quickly.
Can I use DiDi during Chinese New Year?
Yes, but there are fewer drivers and fares are higher, so allow extra time.
When is the Lantern Festival in 2027?
Saturday, February 20, 2027, the 15th day of the new year. It traditionally closes the New Year celebrations.
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Official or primary sources to verify
- Hong Kong Labour Department: Statutory Holidays for 2027, with Lunar New Year's Day on February 6
- People's Daily: State Council decision making the Spring Festival holiday 4 days, starting on New Year's Eve, from 2025 (November 2024, in Chinese)
- Guangzhou government: the 2025 Spring Festival break, 8 days starting on New Year's Eve (in Chinese)
- Xinhua: State Council holiday schedule for 2026, with the Spring Festival break on February 15–23 (November 4, 2025, in Chinese)
- Xinhua via China Daily: the 2026 travel rush ran from February 2 to March 13, 40 days (January 2026, in Chinese)
- Xinhua: train tickets go on sale 15 days before departure (February 2026, in Chinese)
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