What should I expect when traveling in China during their Mid-August holiday?
I am trying to organize a short trip in China, probably a few days in Beijing.
I found cheap tickets but the dates include the Chinese Mid-August national holiday (lunar calendar August, so from 09/15 to 09/17 in the 2016 solar calendar). This made me wondering what I should expect during these days.
For example,
- How will be public transportations? Not in use, or crowded?
- What about museums and touristic attractions? and restaurants?
- Are there some special events, such that festivals?
I am asking with the Korean situation in mind: many Koreans travel to visit their family during their Mid-August holiday, so reserving a bus can be quite complicated. Public offices are closed. Many also use this time to travel, so touristic destinations (as Busan) get overly crowded; on the contrary, less touristic cities (for example, Daejeon) look empty during that time.
Best Answer
I would not worry too much about it.
The holiday you refer to is listed as "Mid-Autumn Day" on Wikivoyage and it is three days, which is not enough for major travels and I have not personally experienced anything crazy going on in Shanghai during that time, Beijing is likely similar. If you do want to travel out of Beijing on those days, you might still want to organize yourself ahead of time, but it is not a mass movement as for Chinese New Year or the National Holiday.
Caution should be taken when the festival falls to late September / early October as noted by Chinahighlights:
In 2016 it takes place on Sunday September 15th. Chinese people will have a three-day "public holiday" on the 15th and 17th — a normal weekend off for 5-day week workers, however...
When Mid-Autumn occurs at the end of September or early October its statutory day of public holiday is usually combined with the statutory National Day three-day holiday for a seven-day public holiday (October 1–7), sacrificing one adjacent weekend day ( for example, in 2015 people need to work on Saturday, October 10).
This will happen in 2017 but not 2016.
People gather with family and friends, either at home or outside, to eat and celebrate, see links below.
Further reading on the festival
Pictures about "What should I expect when traveling in China during their Mid-August holiday?"
Is August a good time to visit China?
Summer (June\u2013August) is a good time to travel, except for the crowds and the heat. It is a peak travel time for Chinese families with school-age children, and students. If the heat and crowds are challenges for you, a private tour will make your trip easier and more comfortable.What are things that visitors have to be aware of when visiting China?
11 Useful Things to Know Before Going to China- Apply for your Chinese visa as early as possible.
- You'll need a Virtual Private Network to visit many websites.
- When in China, carry cash\u2026
- There's no need to tip in China.
- Don't drink Chinese tap water.
- Be cautious when buying hard liquor in China.
Do travelers need to quarantine in China?
All travelers, including U.S. citizens who enter China, are screened upon arrival and subject to a minimum 14-day quarantine. While restrictions around domestic travel within China have eased, local quarantine requirements can vary significantly between cities, and regulations can change very quickly.What is the weather like in China in August?
The average weather in China in August We're expecting roughly 8 to 15 days of rain, so your rubber boots and umbrella are going to see plenty of use this month if you're keen on staying dry. Our weather forecast can give you a great sense of what weather to expect in China in August 2022.Chinese Public Holidays | When to Expect a Vacation in China
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Ryutaro Tsukata, Pixabay, Darren Lawrence, zhang kaiyv