China's major public festivals, including the Mid-Autumn Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and National Day, provide international students with unique cultural experiences. These holidays often include class suspensions and golden weeks for travel throughout the country.
Mid-Autumn Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and National Day — what international students should know, eat and do during China's traditional holidays.
Beyond Spring Festival, China has two more festivals every international student should experience — Mid-Autumn and Dragon Boat. Both are public holidays with deep cultural meaning.
Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节)
When: 15th day of the 8th lunar month — usually September or early October. Often combined with the National Day holiday for a long break.
What it is: The harvest moon festival — the second-most important traditional holiday after Spring Festival. Families gather, the full moon is admired, and mooncakes are exchanged.
What to do:
- Eat mooncakes (月饼) — small dense pastries filled with lotus seed, red bean, salted egg yolk or modern flavors
- Gift mooncakes to teachers and close friends — a polite, expected gesture
- Admire the moon with classmates; some parks hold lantern displays
- Try the regional mooncakes — Cantonese, Suzhou, Beijing and Yunnan styles all differ
Dragon Boat Festival (端午节)
When: 5th day of the 5th lunar month — usually May or June.
What it is: Commemorates the ancient poet Qu Yuan. Famous for dragon boat racing and sticky-rice dumplings.
What to do:
- Eat zongzi (粽子) — sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves, with sweet or savory fillings
- Watch a dragon boat race — most riverside cities (Hangzhou, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Suzhou) hold races
- Some universities organize student dragon boat teams
- Drink realgar wine (traditional, optional) and hang mugwort at the door for luck
National Day Golden Week (国庆)
When: October 1–7. Not a traditional festival but the busiest travel week of the year besides Spring Festival.
What to expect:
- Trains, flights and tourist sites are fully booked — plan travel well ahead or stay in your city
- Major attractions (Great Wall, West Lake, Forbidden City) are extremely crowded
- A good week to relax on campus or explore your own city's quieter spots
Other holidays worth knowing
- Qingming (Tomb-Sweeping, April) — families honor ancestors; a quiet spring holiday
- Labor Day (May 1–5) — a 5-day holiday, popular for short travel
- Dragon Boat, Mid-Autumn, National Day — your best chances for longer trips in autumn
Tips
- Book travel the moment tickets go on sale (15 days ahead)
- Expect crowds and higher prices at every tourist site
- Buy festival foods at your campus canteen — they usually mark the holidays
- Accept invitations from Chinese classmates to celebrate with their families
China's traditional festivals are warm, food-centered and deeply communal. Join in, eat everything you're offered, and you'll feel part of the culture within months.
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The StudyInChina Education Team is a group of admissions advisors, scholarship specialists and former international students who have guided thousands of applicants into Chinese universities. This article is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly.
Last updated 9 Sept 2026
