Traveling to China during the Chinese New Year
China is a nation of over 1.3 billion people. It stretches from the western desert of Taklamakan to the ultramodern metropolis of Shanghai. China is a source of fascination for any adventurous explorer. Discover Imperial and Communist China at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, bordered by the Forbidden City and Mao’s mausoleum; marvel at the towering limestone mountains of Guilin; admire the Terracotta Army in Xian. Basically, the joy of visiting China lies in the endless discoveries. But you have to choose the right time to visit China.
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The Chinese new year
Chinese New Year is the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese New Year is accompanied by a Spring Festival which marks the start of the two-week holiday which ends with the Lantern Festival.
What to expect during the Chinese New Year?
The Chinese New Year is indeed a record-breaking travel period considered to be the largest human migration in the world. Migrant workers return to their home villages to celebrate the Chinese New Year with their families. Others take advantage of these vacations to travel abroad. Many Chinese prefer warmer places since it is usually cold in China at the beginning of the year.
Chinese New Year will not usually be an inconvenience for sightseeing and sightseeing. Almost all businesses related to tourism and the service sector, with the exception of banks, will not be closed for more than a day or two. Prices may be higher for accommodation and some restaurants may have limited hours. Businesses and industrial factories will close during the Lunar New Year but I don’t think that will impact tourists. Usually, the first two or three days of the Chinese New Year are the most affected by closures.
Advice for your reservations
At attraction sites, expect unusual crowds. The Chinese book their trip a few months before the Chinese New Year. Prices go up during the holiday season and tickets sell out quickly. Chances are, you won’t even find any available tickets.
Fireworks during Chinese New Year
Big cities are overflowing with fireworks. Almost everywhere in the neighborhoods on Lunar New Year’s Eve you will be in awe. Also, don’t hesitate to take a stroll through the vast streets in China. There is a good chance you will experience lion and dragon dances up close.
My own experience
How strange not to be able to portray such a feeling. Cold sadness around a graying atmosphere, under an ominous cloudy sky from which drops of water were falling. There was only the wind singing to me. But his singing was not pleasant to me. I felt there was no life. No birds, no stray cats and dogs.
The sun had gone out. I see closed curtains, rusty padlocks, locked motorcycles and overturned bicycles that no one wanted. I felt that all of these roads belonged to me, that all of China’s awe-inspiring infrastructure was mine alone. I was free to do whatever I wanted: scream, run, ride a bike … However, nothing was pleasant to me. Where are these people? Their smile, their humble and respectful posture … I miss everything! I knew that without Chinese, without their cultural warmth, winter will never end. China will be a desert devoid of all amenities.
Conclusion
Chinese New Year is not the perfect time to travel to China. Most destinations will be teeming with visitors and ticket prices will skyrocket. But if you know how to do it right, a vacation can also be one of the most remarkable times to visit the country.