Top Tips for Traveling in Golden Week

Travel in WildChina-style during this year's Golden Week break

We don’t encourage people to travel in China during a national holiday and I'm sure we don’t have to explain to most of you why. Spring Festival at the beginning of each year is the largest human migration on the planet and Golden Week in October, though it isn’t on the same scale as chunyun, is another week where almost everyone in China will be on vacation at the same time. Prices soar, it’s difficult to book tickets, and generally, if you asked us in any other year, we’d tell you to explore China another time.  

However, this year you're not likely to have the option to leave China during Golden Week and we imagine, like us, you're in need of a vacation.  

So, to help you make the right decisions about where to go and how to travel, we’ve rounded up top tips for Golden Week travel from our team of highly experienced travel designers.   

1.  If You Can, Be Flexible with Your Dates

"Starting two or three days before the national holiday begins or staying for a few days longer can make the world of difference to the price and availability of tickets and accommodations. And, if you have your heart set on visiting somewhere that you know will be crowded, having a few days either end of the holiday will give you a chance to see it with fewer people." - Andres Vargas, Head of Latin American Travel

2.  Book Well in Advance

"If you're not already thinking about where you want to go, it's time to do so now! Be sure to look at the flight schedules and hotel prices and availability before you decide where to go so you're not disappointed. And be aware that things will be more expensive than normal." - Lilly Li, Travel Designer based in Beijing

3.  Choose Flights over Trains

"You'll never hear us say this apart from when planning for national holiday travel but, unless you’re traveling to somewhere where trains are plentiful (Shanghai – Hangzhou or Beijing – Xi'an, for example) look to book a flight over relying on train tickets. As they are only released a month in advance and they sell like hotcakes, it’s hard for even us to guarantee you a seat." - Rebecca Xiong, Business Development

4.  Avoid Well-Known Tourist Destinations

"Avoid major tourist destinations as much as possible and don't visit places where tourists are in a confined space. If you’re new to China and can't wait to visit the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an or travel to West Lake in Hangzhou, Golden Week is not the time. I went to Yangshuo a few years ago though during Golden Week and actually had a great experience. There are so many hiking trails and mountain routes that it never felt that busy outside of the town." - Isabel Wang, Travel Designer based in Chengdu

5.  Look for Destinations Where Accommodation is Limited

Head off-the-beaten-path to somewhere where there is a limited number of accommodation options. This might sound counter-intuitive but if you can secure accommodation and others can’t, they won’t be joining you in that destination.

6.  Choose Your Hotel Wisely

Stray Bird Art Hotel, Songyang

"When it’s possible, book a hotel with a view or a balcony. After a busy day, you’ll really appreciate this haven." - Katie Cundale, Head of Communications

7.  Hire a Private Car and Driver

"Avoid public transport if you're traveling in a city. You won’t regret hiring a private vehicle and driver. It'll make your journey a lot more convenient and enjoyable. However, avoid long distances by car. Once you're on the highway, it's difficult to turn around if you hit traffic." - Sara Liu, Travel Designer based in Guangdong

8.  Don't Try to Squeeze Too Much in

Don't put pressure on yourself to try and see EVERYTHING. Some things will take longer than normal during Golden Week. Instead, plan to do less each day and really enjoy the experience. You'll actually end up getting a deeper look at your destination that way too.

9.  Consider Staying Closer to Home

There's no rule that says you have to head to a far-flung destination during the break. There is always more to explore and ways to get off-the-beaten-path in your own backyard. If you're looking for ideas, just ask us!

10.  Appreciate the Experience

"It's almost impossible to avoid crowds completely during a national holiday in China and a sea of people or traffic is incredible to experience in its own right. If it happens to you, try to enjoy it. It'll definitely be an experience you remember for a while." - Olivier Marchesin, Managing Director Guangdong Office

Download our Fall Brochure

Our series of autumn recommendations can all be adapted for Golden Week travel and we've even included a couple of small group journeys if you're looking to travel with like-minded souls. We can’t promise there won’t be crowds in some of the places we visit, but we can promise we’ll do everything we can to avoid them. 

Here’s what else we promise:

⭑ Your health and safety is our number one priority. If we need to, we’ll alter your itinerary as we go along and will keep you fully in the loop about any travel restrictions that might be in place in the destinations we’re visiting

⭑ You’ll work with a dedicated travel designer to customize a journey that’s just right for you. They’ll do the hard work for you so the only thing you have to worry about is enjoying the ride

⭑ All our guides are local to a destination and they will treat you as friends, not tourists. They’re not here to recite facts from a tourist textbook, they want to share their personal stories and to help you experience a place like a local

Download our autumn brochure

Read More 

---

WildChina was born on the sacred slopes of Mount Kailash in the Himalayas. Since WildChina’s first-ever trip in 2000, we have helped thousands of travelers enjoy life-changing experiences in every corner of this vast and endlessly inspiring nation. We never crop out reality or cocoon our travelers in a tourist bubble. We believe in the power of travel to transform, inspire, and bring people closer together, and we work tirelessly to perfect every detail for our guests. It’s this dedication, expertise, and passion for travel in China that makes us an award-winning industry leader.