National Holiday Week impact on tourist spots
Apr 23, 2019, 1:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: GA
Programs: HH, IHG
Posts: 141
National Holiday Week impact on tourist spots
Hey so, I learned about National Holiday week AFTER booking our RTW trip, which includes flying into / out of PEK 9/28 and 10/10. My plan was to try and do something (was thinking Jiuzhaigou but still losed) when we first arrive before the holiday and go somewhere else for that week, then come BACK to PEK for October 7-11.
How much of an impact will the holiday week really have? Is it so bad I should go outside China for that week?
I can't change the flight in or out of PEK but I can go somewhere else in between.
Thanks
How much of an impact will the holiday week really have? Is it so bad I should go outside China for that week?
I can't change the flight in or out of PEK but I can go somewhere else in between.
Thanks
Apr 23, 2019, 5:08 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
Hey so, I learned about National Holiday week AFTER booking our RTW trip, which includes flying into / out of PEK 9/28 and 10/10. My plan was to try and do something (was thinking Jiuzhaigou but still losed) when we first arrive before the holiday and go somewhere else for that week, then come BACK to PEK for October 7-11.
How much of an impact will the holiday week really have? Is it so bad I should go outside China for that week?
I can't change the flight in or out of PEK but I can go somewhere else in between.
Thanks
How much of an impact will the holiday week really have? Is it so bad I should go outside China for that week?
I can't change the flight in or out of PEK but I can go somewhere else in between.
Thanks
Apr 24, 2019, 8:51 pm
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
BJ and SH are both bad during anniversary years, but I don't believe this is one. That having been said, do look into Turpan. Getting there isn't super easy, but hotels and food are cheap.
Apr 25, 2019, 12:16 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: PEK and BOS
Programs: BA - Blue
Posts: 4,530
For a China veteran, BJ/ SH are not too bad, because the things we are interested in: cool restaurants etc, are less busy -- these are typically frequented by well to do locals. BUT for a first-time visitor, interested in going to the Great Wall, Summer Palace etc, Golden Week will be super crowded. Remember that 99% of tourists in Beijing are not from Beijing, but from elsewhere in mainland China: they will ALL be going to the GW and Forbidden City...
tb
tb
Apr 25, 2019, 12:44 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,314
Apr 25, 2019, 2:22 am
#8
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
In the case of Beijing, as TB noted, the GW and FC will be slammed, but you can still have a nice time if you stay east/north.
My Turpan rec was somewhat serious. Yes, it's a 4 hour flight, but airfares are cheap, and it is nothing like BJ/SH.
Apr 25, 2019, 11:27 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,314
Good to know. IIRC, 2003 was an anniversary year, and I lived in Lujiazui at the time. Thousands of domestic tourists simply went there to stand around. But, nice venues were pretty much deserted.
In the case of Beijing, as TB noted, the GW and FC will be slammed, but you can still have a nice time if you stay east/north.
My Turpan rec was somewhat serious. Yes, it's a 4 hour flight, but airfares are cheap, and it is nothing like BJ/SH.
In the case of Beijing, as TB noted, the GW and FC will be slammed, but you can still have a nice time if you stay east/north.
My Turpan rec was somewhat serious. Yes, it's a 4 hour flight, but airfares are cheap, and it is nothing like BJ/SH.
May 3, 2019, 10:35 am
#11
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 20
May 3, 2019, 4:49 pm
#12
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
My typical strategy for holiday travel is to research flights on ctrip ~10 days out, and choose a destination that has cheap fares. Basically, apart from saving money on tickets, cheap fares typically correlate with light crowds.
May 3, 2019, 5:33 pm
#14
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
Yeah, some of my friends went to the Bund yesterday, and reported the same madness. I was thinking about going to Flair (other side of the river) because the weather is great these days, but decided to stay near my place (Shanghai Library) instead, which is remarkably calm.
May 3, 2019, 7:00 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: China and Canada
Posts: 1,886
Tickets are released 30 days prior to travel date. You can place an order with ctrip 60 days ahead or even before this with other agent but they only buy the tickets when released 30 days ahead.