The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most grand and representative traditional festival in China, carrying the cultural connotations of reunion, blessing and joy. The 2026 Spring Festival coincides with the Year of the Horse, which is full of auspicious and progressive meanings. For foreign tourists planning to travel to China, the holiday arrangement and free highway policy during the Spring Festival are the core basis for planning their trips. This article will detail the relevant policies, together with travel suggestions, recommended popular destinations and cultural tips, to help foreign tourists deeply feel the unique charm of China’s Spring Festival and start a smooth and unforgettable Spring Festival journey.
First of all, it is clear that the official holiday arrangement for the 2026 China Spring Festival. According to the notice of the General Office of the State Council, the Spring Festival holiday this time is from February 15 (the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Sunday) to February 23 (the 7th day of the first lunar month, Monday), totaling 9 days. February 14 (Saturday) and February 28 (Saturday) are normal working days for make-up classes/work. This period is the peak period of national reunion and travel in China, known as “Chunyun” (Spring Festival Travel Rush), and also the best time for foreign tourists to experience the festive atmosphere of China’s Spring Festival – whether it is the red lanterns on the streets, the Spring Festival couplets of every household, or the folk activities in various places, you can intuitively feel the warmth of China’s traditional culture.
The most concerned benefit for tourists during the Spring Festival is the free highway policy. The free highway period for the 2026 Spring Festival is completely synchronized with the holiday time, that is, from 00:00 on February 15 to 24:00 on February 23, a total of 9 days. The free scope covers all toll highways in China, and the free models are small passenger cars with 7 seats or less (including 7 seats), including common models such as ordinary private cars and small SUVs. Foreign tourists driving eligible vehicles or taking such models can enjoy the free passage benefit. It should be specially noted that the judgment standard for free highway is based on the time when the vehicle leaves the toll lane at the expressway exit, not the time when it enters. If you are still driving on the highway before the end of the free period, it is recommended to leave the exit nearby in advance to avoid missing the free period and paying the full toll.
According to the travel characteristics of foreign tourists, combined with the Spring Festival holiday and free highway policy, here are some practical suggestions. First, plan your travel time reasonably to avoid the Spring Festival travel rush. During the Spring Festival travel rush (usually 15 days before the Spring Festival to 25 days after the Spring Festival), there is a huge flow of people on highways, high-speed railways and airports, especially the homecoming peak around February 14 and the return peak on February 22, which are prone to traffic jams on highways. It is recommended that foreign tourists try to avoid these two periods and choose to travel in the middle of the holiday (February 17 to February 20), which can not only enjoy the free highway, but also reduce the trouble of traffic jams. Second, familiarize yourself with China’s traffic rules in advance. If you plan to travel by self-driving, you need to prepare an international driver’s license translation and your valid passport, abide by China’s traffic rules such as right-hand traffic and speed limit, do not speeding or drive fatigued. For long-distance self-driving, you need to plan the supply points in advance and pay attention to the vehicle condition. At the same time, you can query the highway congestion and charging pile location through the official applet of China’s transportation department to facilitate travel planning.
Third, book accommodation and scenic spot tickets in advance. The Spring Festival is the peak tourist season in China. Hotels and homestays in popular cities are in tight supply. Some scenic spots will launch special Spring Festival activities and may adjust their opening hours. It is recommended that foreign tourists book accommodation 1-2 months in advance, giving priority to areas with convenient transportation, such as around scenic spots or subway lines; Popular scenic spots can be booked in advance through official public accounts and online travel platforms to avoid long queues on site. Fourth, adapt your itinerary and choose destinations according to regional characteristics. During the Spring Festival, the festive atmosphere in northern and southern China has its own characteristics. The north focuses on ice and snow festive atmosphere, while the south focuses on folk experience. The following cities are particularly suitable for foreign tourists: Xi’an with Tang Dynasty lantern shows and city wall blessings, Chengdu with hot pot festive atmosphere and Sichuan opera face-changing, Kaifeng with Northern Song intangible cultural heritage carnival and iron flower performances, Harbin with ice and snow world and European style, Nanjing with Qinhuai lanterns and ancient capital poetry, Qingyuan with landscape hot springs and Yao ethnic customs. Each city can let you feel the different charm of China’s Spring Festival.
In addition, understanding the cultural customs and precautions during the Spring Festival can make your journey more smooth and pleasant. During the Spring Festival, Chinese families will mostly gather for the reunion dinner, paste Spring Festival couplets, set off fireworks and give red envelopes. In some areas, there are also traditional activities such as dragon and lion dances and ancestor worship. Foreign tourists can politely participate to feel the festive atmosphere, but they need to respect local customs and not randomly take photos of others’ family reunion scenes. In terms of diet, various regions will launch special delicacies during the Spring Festival, such as dumplings in the north, rice cakes and glutinous rice balls in the south, as well as special snacks in various places. Foreign tourists can boldly try them. If you have dietary taboos, you can inform the restaurant staff in advance. In terms of safety, you need to take good care of important documents such as passports and visas, keep copies and electronic versions in advance, and do not carry a lot of cash; Improve your awareness of prevention and be vigilant against online and telecom fraud; Pay attention to traffic safety when traveling by self-driving, abide by traffic rules, keep patient in case of congestion, and do not change lanes forcibly.
Finally, remind all foreign tourists that some government departments, banks and stores will shorten their business hours or close during the Spring Festival. It is recommended to exchange RMB in advance and reserve necessary daily necessities; If you encounter difficulties during your trip, you can call China’s tourism service hotline 12301 or contact the local Chinese embassy or consulate for help. During the 2026 China Spring Festival, the highway is free and the festive atmosphere is full. We look forward to the arrival of all foreign tourists, immersive experience the charm of China’s traditional culture, and spend an unforgettable Spring Festival journey.
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