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We will be in China the weeks bracketing Feb 14 (~Feb 7 - 21). What advise can anyone offer about the New Year? We'll be in Taiyuan for the 12th - 15th. What is likely to be open/closed? Any trouble traveling at this time of year? We’re considering seeing Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, and possibly Xian. We’ll be flying in and out of Hong Kong. Any suggestions on itineraries? Thanks
Chinese New Year
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> Any trouble traveling at this time of year?
Are you kidding? Surely it's one of the most commonly known facts about China that it is difficult to travel in that period. The single largest human migration takes place annually around those dates, thousands of extra trains and buses fail to cope with the demand, and prices for transport rise steeply. On some dates you will find it next to impossible to find tickets, although you'll do better with air than with other methods. Avoid even attempting to travel at either end of the official holiday, although traffic demand is increased for a period as long as 60 days around the holiday, with twin peaks in the run-up to it and immediately following it.
Offices will be shut. Most businesses will be shut. Street vendors vanish from major cities and other migrant-run services come to a halt--many (but certainly not all) restaurants close because their staff all go home. Sights are open.
Don't think you can make a detailed day-by-day plan for this period (never actually a good idea at any time in China). Just go (unless you can move your dates) and go with the flow (where 'flow' means 'torrent', 'deluge', etc.)
Peter N-H
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