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 15 Aug 2026
