Shanghai Chinese New Year 2027: Dates, Events, and Tips

Chinese New Year is the biggest family holiday in China, and Shanghai is a memorable place to experience it. The city fills with red decorations, lanterns, temple crowds, and special foods. It also slows down: some restaurants close, transport gets crowded, and the exact public holiday schedule changes every year.

This guide is written for the 2027 Spring Festival, with the confirmed lunar dates, what to expect in Shanghai, and how to plan around the closures and travel rush.

The short version

• Chinese New Year 2027 falls on Saturday, 6 February. New Year's Eve is Friday, 5 February. The Lantern Festival falls on Saturday, 20 February.
• 2027 is the Year of the Goat (Ding-wei).
• The official mainland holiday block is announced separately. The law guarantees four statutory days, from New Year's Eve through the third day of the new year; adjusted days usually create a longer break. Do not rely on third-party holiday calendars.
• Book trains, flights, and hotels early. The Spring Festival travel rush is the busiest travel period of the year.
• Some independent restaurants and shops close for several days, especially at the start of the holiday. Hotels, shopping malls, and international chains are more reliable.
• Major attractions stay open but are crowded. Book tickets and go early.
• Private fireworks are restricted in central Shanghai. Official displays are staged at licensed venues; check the 2027 rules before the holiday.
• Learn a few greetings and red-envelope etiquette. It makes a difference, and it is not expected that visitors give money.

When is Chinese New Year 2027?

The lunar calendar fixes the date, even though the public holiday schedule is published later.

• Friday, 5 February 2027: Chinese New Year's Eve and the reunion dinner.
• Saturday, 6 February 2027: Chinese New Year's Day, the first day of the Year of the Goat.
• Saturday, 20 February 2027: Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the first lunar month.

The celebration traditionally runs for 15 days, from New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival. In practice, the most intense period is the first three to five days, when families visit relatives and many businesses are closed.

Under China's revised public holiday rules, Spring Festival has four statutory days: New Year's Eve, plus the first three days of the first lunar month. The State Council can arrange adjusted rest days and weekend swaps to create a longer block. The exact 2027 dates and make-up workdays will be published in the annual holiday notice on gov.cn. Check that notice before booking non-refundable travel.

What Shanghai feels like during Spring Festival

Shanghai does not shut down, but it changes rhythm.

• Some neighbourhoods feel quieter. Many residents travel to other provinces to reunite with family, so local markets, offices, and small businesses may be unusually calm.
• Tourist areas are busy. Yu Garden, the Bund, Jing'an Temple, and major malls draw crowds, especially on the first three days and during lantern displays.
• Independent restaurants may close. Some close for a few days; others close for a week or more. Hotel restaurants, shopping-mall restaurants, and international chains are safer bets.
• Museums and attractions often stay open, but holiday hours vary and popular time slots sell out. Check official booking channels.
• Services slow down. Deliveries, repairs, and some professional services may be suspended. Taxis and ride-hailing can be harder to find at peak times.

The first three days are usually the quietest commercially. More shops and restaurants reopen as the holiday progresses, and the city returns to normal after the Lantern Festival.

What happens on each day

New Year's Eve

Families gather for the year's most important meal. Restaurant tables are booked well in advance, and some restaurants offer only set menus. If you want a traditional dinner, reserve early or eat at your hotel. Many shops close early.

New Year's Day and the first three days

People visit temples, exchange greetings, and deliver gifts. Some businesses stay closed. Temples are busy, especially in the morning; go early, dress modestly, and follow staff instructions.

Days four to fourteen

Family visits continue, but more businesses reopen. This is a good window for museums, markets, and neighbourhood walks. Transport is still busy with holiday travellers.

Lantern Festival

The 15th day closes the celebration with lantern displays and sweet rice dumplings. In Shanghai, the Yuyuan Lantern Festival is the best-known display. Book tickets early and expect large crowds.

Lantern displays and temple visits

Yuyuan Lantern Festival

The Yuyuan Lantern Festival is Shanghai's signature Lunar New Year light show, set around Yu Garden and the old town. In 2026 it opened on 26 January and ran into March, with ticketed and free zones. The 2027 dates, ticket prices, and zone layout will be announced separately.

Check the official Yuyuan channels before you go. Some areas require a ticket; surrounding streets may be free but extremely crowded. Go on a weekday if possible, use the metro, and follow crowd-control directions. Do not drive into the old town during peak evenings.

Longhua Temple and Jade Buddha Temple

Both are active temples, not museums. During Spring Festival, visitors come to pray for the year ahead. Expect queues, incense smoke, and photography restrictions. Dress modestly, keep your voice down, and do not photograph worshippers without permission.

The famous Longhua bell-ringing event takes place on Western New Year's Eve (31 December), not Chinese New Year's Eve. Do not plan around a Spring Festival bell ceremony unless the temple announces one for 2027.

City God Temple and the old town

The City God Temple area inside Yuyuan Bazaar is busy throughout the holiday. The bazaar itself is free to enter and open 24/7, though individual shops keep their own hours. The garden is a separate ticketed attraction. Expect long queues for popular snack stalls.

Official fireworks and light shows

In 2026, Shanghai's official Spring Festival programme included fireworks and drone shows at theme parks and Dishui Lake. These are licensed events with tickets or published viewing areas. The 2027 line-up will be announced closer to the date.

Private fireworks are a different matter. During the 2026 Spring Festival, all fireworks were banned within the Outer Ring Road, with further restricted zones outside it. The 2027 notice is expected before the holiday. Do not buy or set off fireworks based on old advice.

Travel during the Spring Festival rush

The Spring Festival travel rush, known as chunyun, is a 40-day period around the holiday. In 2026 it ran from 2 February to 13 March, with the holiday itself from 15 to 23 February. The 2027 dates will be published by the transport authorities.

Trains

• Book on the official 12306 website or app. You need your passport details to buy a ticket.
• Popular routes to Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, Beijing, and family destinations sell out quickly.
• Ticket sales windows are limited. Check 12306 for the exact opening time rather than relying on an old blog post.
• Shanghai's main stations are Shanghai, Shanghai South, Shanghai Hongqiao, and Shanghai Songjiang. Check which station your ticket leaves from.

Flights

Airports are busy before and after the holiday. Allow extra time for security and baggage, and book flights early. If you are connecting to an international flight, leave a generous buffer.

Metro, taxis, and roads

• The metro runs holiday schedules. Some lines extend hours on peak nights, but do not assume the last train is as late as usual.
• Taxis add a 10 yuan Spring Festival surcharge per trip under the current fare schedule. This is an official holiday surcharge, not a tip.
• Ride-hailing demand is high around shopping areas and transport hubs. Have a backup plan.
• Roads around the old town, the Bund, and major temples may be closed or restricted. Public transport is usually faster than driving.

Closures and what to book

• Restaurants: reserve New Year's Eve and New Year's Day if you want a specific place. Hotel restaurants and mall restaurants are the most reliable.
• Attractions: book online, carry your passport, and check holiday hours. Some museums close on Mondays.
• Shopping: malls and chain stores generally stay open; small independent shops may not.
• Pharmacies and hospitals: emergency services operate, but routine appointments may be limited. Bring enough medication and a copy of your prescription.
• Tours and experiences: many operators run reduced schedules. Confirm that your tour is operating before you pay.

If a restaurant or shop is closed, do not take it personally. Staff are often visiting family, and the owner may have posted the reopening date on the door.

Etiquette for visitors

Greetings

"Xīnnián kuàilè" means Happy New Year. "Gōngxǐ fācái" is the traditional wish for prosperity. A smile and a simple greeting are enough.

Red envelopes

Married adults traditionally give red envelopes containing money to children and younger unmarried relatives. As a visitor, you are not expected to give red envelopes to staff, guides, or strangers. If you are close to a family and want to give one, use a clean red envelope and new notes; avoid the number four, which sounds like death, and favor even numbers. Eight is considered lucky.

Gifts

If you are invited to a home, bring a small gift. Fruit, tea, or a specialty from your country is appropriate. Offer and receive gifts with both hands. Avoid clocks, knives, shoes, and white flowers, which are associated with endings or funerals. Red and gold wrapping is safest.

Meals

Wait for the host or eldest person to start. A whole fish symbolizes surplus, so it may be served but not finished. Do not stand chopsticks upright in rice, and do not tap your bowl with them. Tea is often poured for others before yourself.

Temples

Dress modestly, avoid loud clothing, and do not point at statues. Use incense only in designated areas. Ask before photographing monks or worshippers. Some halls prohibit photography entirely.

Food to try

Spring Festival food is symbolic. Look for:

• Niangao (rice cake) — rising fortune.
• Fish — surplus and abundance.
• Dumplings — wealth, especially in northern households.
• Spring rolls — a fresh start.
• Yuanxiao or tangyuan — sweet rice balls served around the Lantern Festival.
• Eight-treasure rice — a sweet Shanghai-style dish.

Shanghai restaurants may offer special set menus during the holiday. Ask what is included and whether seafood is priced by weight. Street-food stalls may be closed, especially on the first days.

Is Chinese New Year a good time to visit?

It depends on what you want.

Go if you want: decorations, temple traditions, lantern displays, and a once-a-year atmosphere. The city is photogenic, and cultural events are everywhere.

Reconsider if you want: a quiet luxury-hotel stay, a full restaurant scene, flexible train travel, or nightlife. Many clubs and bars reduce programming, and some restaurants close.

The best approach is to book the essentials, keep the first two days light, and treat closures as part of the experience rather than a failure of planning.

A simple three-day plan

1. New Year's Eve: dinner at your hotel or a reserved restaurant, then a short walk to see neighbourhood decorations. Avoid crossing the city at midnight.
2. New Year's Day: visit a temple early, then a museum or the Bund in the afternoon. Check opening hours before you go.
3. Second day: explore the Former French Concession or a market, then see the Yuyuan lantern display in the late afternoon or evening. Book tickets and use the metro.

This plan is deliberately flexible. If a restaurant is closed or a queue is too long, move on; the city rewards slow wandering during the holiday.

The bottom line

Chinese New Year 2027 falls on 6 February, with the Lantern Festival on 20 February. Shanghai is lively and photogenic, but the holiday brings closures, crowds, and the year's busiest travel period. Book early, check the official holiday schedule, keep the first days flexible, and do not plan on private fireworks.

Dates, holiday arrangements, event schedules, and transport rules change. Confirm with the official sources below before you book.