2026 China Golden Week: The Ultimate Guide for Malaysians

✨ If you want to see China at its most lively, festive, and exciting, Golden Week is definitely one of the times worth experiencing!

During this period, you’ll see red flags everywhere, cities lighting up beautifully at night 🌆, and popular attractions packed with both locals and tourists. It can get really crowded, but there’s also this super festive atmosphere that makes it feel like the whole country is celebrating together.

💡 But here’s the important part: Golden Week is also one of the busiest travel periods in China. Flights, trains, hotels, and attractions can get booked up really quickly, and popular places can be seriously crowded!

So, if you’re planning to fly from Malaysia to China for the October 1st holiday, I’ve put together this guide to help you plan better, avoid the common travel headaches, and make the most of your Golden Week trip ✈️

🔍 What is China's Golden Week?

It’s More Than Just a Holiday: What Is China’s National Day?

China’s National Day falls on October 1, and it’s one of the biggest celebrations of the year. You’ll see Chinese flags everywhere, cities decorated with festive lights, and people heading out to travel, shop, eat and spend time with their families.

And yes, the whole country gets really lively! From the busy streets of Beijing and Shanghai to smaller cities and tourist spots, there’s a festive atmosphere almost everywhere. It’s definitely one of those times when you can really feel the energy of China.

2026 China Golden Week Dates

For 2026, China’s National Day holiday runs from October 1 to October 7, giving people a 7-day public holiday. October 1 falls on a Thursday, while October 7 falls on a Wednesday. There are also adjusted working days on September 20 and October 10.

✅ Should you travel to China during Golden Week?

💡 My take: If this is your first trip to China and you don’t mind crowds, I’d still consider going during Golden Week for the atmosphere and festive experience. But if you prefer a more relaxed trip, I’d choose another time of year. You’ll probably save money too!

✈️ Travel Planning from Malaysia: A Step-by-Step Checklist

Step 1: Visa for Malaysian Citizens

If you’re travelling to China for tourism, you don’t need to apply for a visa as long as you’re holding a valid Malaysian ordinary passport and your trip meets the visa-free requirements.

Under the current China-Malaysia visa exemption agreement, Malaysians can stay in China for up to 30 days per entry, with a maximum cumulative stay of 90 days within any 180-day period. The visa-free arrangement covers purposes such as tourism, visiting family or friends, business, exchanges and certain private matters.

However, if you plan to stay for more than 30 days at a time, work, study, or take part in activities that require prior approval, you’ll need to apply for the appropriate visa before travelling.

Step 2: Book Your Flight from Malaysia

Whether you’re flying from Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Penang (PEN) or Kota Kinabalu (BKI), I’d recommend booking your flights as early as possible for Golden Week. Personally, I wouldn’t wait until the last minute and hope for a cheap deal. Start checking prices early, compare different airlines and consider flying on less popular dates if your schedule is flexible.

Step 3: Book Your Accommodation

Golden Week can get seriously busy, especially in popular cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu. Hotels in convenient locations can fill up quickly, while prices may also increase during the holiday period.

✅Explore Beijing

✅Explore Shanghai

Step 4: Manage Your Funds Wisely (Alipay & WeChat Pay Are Your Best Friends!)

If you’re travelling to China for Golden Week, I’d definitely recommend setting up Alipay and WeChat Pay. Trust me, it makes paying for things so much easier!

In mainland China, QR code payments are widely used, from restaurants and convenience stores to shopping malls, attractions and taxis. You can usually pay by scanning the merchant’s QR code or showing your own payment QR code. Apart from payments, WeChat is also super useful when travelling around China. Its Mini Programs let you do things like order food, book services, shop online and arrange rides without having to download a separate app for everything.

📊 Essential Apps for Traveling in China

Step 5: Stay Connected (VPN + eSIM)

Staying connected in China is something I’d definitely sort out before flying from Malaysia. 📱 I used a China eSIM during my trip and found it really convenient for checking maps, translating things, booking rides and staying in touch while exploring.

📍 Where to Go: Embracing the Crowd vs. Finding Inner Peace

🏙️ The Ultimate Golden Week Experience: Beijing & Shanghai

If this is your first Golden Week in China, Beijing and Shanghai are two cities I’d definitely consider.

In Beijing, you can experience the iconic Tiananmen Square flag-raising ceremony, while Shanghai is all about the stunning skyline and colorful night views along The Bund. Yes, both cities can get seriously crowded during Golden Week. But if you want to see China at its most lively and festive, I think the atmosphere is worth experiencing at least once!

🏞️ For Nature Lovers: Guilin & Yangshuo

If busy cities aren’t really your thing, I’d look at Guilin and Yangshuo instead 🌿. The scenery around the Li River is absolutely beautiful. You can take a boat or bamboo raft ride, explore the countryside and enjoy those classic karst mountain views that look straight out of a Chinese landscape painting.

It’s still a popular destination during Golden Week, so don’t expect it to be completely quiet. But compared with spending your entire trip in major cities, it can feel like a nice change of pace.

🌿 Want a More Relaxed Getaway? Try Yunnan or Gansu

I personally love Dali and Lijiang in Yunnan because the atmosphere feels much more relaxed compared with the super busy pace of Beijing or Shanghai.

You can spend your day wandering around ancient towns, trying local food and enjoying the mountain scenery without rushing from one attraction to another. If you’re looking for something even more different, Dunhuang in Gansu is another interesting option. The desert landscapes, ancient history and unique scenery make it feel completely different from the usual China city trip.

💡 Travel Tips for Malaysians During Golden Week

⏰ Book Your Flights, Hotels & Train Tickets Early

This is probably my No. 1 tip for Golden Week! Flights, hotels and high-speed train tickets can get booked up quickly because so many people are travelling at the same time. Prices can also increase as demand goes up. 💸

🚄 Try China’s High-Speed Rail

If you’re travelling between cities, China’s high-speed rail is something I’d definitely recommend experiencing at least once! The trains are generally comfortable, fast and convenient, and you can easily travel between many major cities without having to go through the airport. 🚄 During Golden Week, though, tickets can be very competitive, especially for popular routes. So don’t leave your train bookings until the last minute!

🧥 Pack for October Weather

October weather in China can feel very different depending on where you’re going. Northern cities such as Beijing and Xi’an can feel cool, especially in the mornings and evenings, while places further south such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen are generally warmer. If you’re travelling across different parts of China, I’d recommend packing layers rather than bringing only thick jackets. A T-shirt, light jacket and comfortable long pants should give you more flexibility. 👕🧥