Chinese New Year as an international student: what to expect and do

Chinese New Year — Spring Festival (春节) — is the biggest holiday in the world by travel volume. As an international student in China, it is an unforgettable experience, but it needs planning.

When it happens

• Based on the lunar calendar; falls between late January and mid-February
• The official holiday is usually 7–8 days; many businesses close; universities go on winter break
• The exact date shifts each year (2027: February 6; 2028: January 26)

What to expect

• The world's largest annual migration — hundreds of millions of people travel home; trains, flights and buses sell out weeks ahead
• Cities empty out — Beijing and Shanghai feel quiet; many restaurants and shops close for several days
• Fireworks and red decorations — though fireworks are restricted in many city centers now
• Family reunions — most students return to their hometowns
• Red envelopes (hongbao) — money gifts exchanged, increasingly digital via WeChat

What to do

• Travel early or late — avoid the first 3 days and last 3 days of the holiday for trains
• Book trains the moment they go on sale — 15 days before travel at 8am on 12306; they sell out in minutes
• Stock up on food — some canteens and supermarkets close for a few days
• Visit a temple fair (庙会) — Beijing, Xi'an and many cities run traditional fairs with food, performances and crafts
• Accept invitations — Chinese classmates may invite you home for the reunion dinner; this is a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience

Staying on campus

Most universities keep international dorms open and canteens running (with reduced hours) during the break. It is a quiet, peaceful time on campus — and a great chance to study, rest and explore the empty city.

Spring Festival as a foreign student

• You are not expected to work — the country is on holiday
• Send a greeting to your classmates and supervisor — a simple '新年快乐' goes a long way
• Send a small WeChat red packet to close friends — CNY 6.66 or 8.88 is a friendly gesture
• Avoid big travel on the worst days — the first 2 days and last 2 days are the most crowded

The lantern close

The festival ends 15 days later with the Lantern Festival (元宵节) — sweet rice balls (tangyuan), lanterns and riddles. A gentle, beautiful end to the new-year season.

Spring Festival is when China feels most like China. Stay, observe, accept invitations, and you'll carry the memory forever.